A Living Willamette River

Restoring Upper Willamette Salmon

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates 13 dams in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. These dams have blocked generations of Chinook salmon and steelhead from accessing important spawning grounds and are the reason why Upper Willamette River Chinook salmon and winter steelhead are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Instead of taking the required measures to protect fish, the Corps delayed, delayed, and delayed. That’s when WildEarth Guardians and our allies took the Army Corps to court.

Two years later, the judge ruled in our favor, condemning the Army Corps’ inaction on vital measures needed to save Upper Willamette Chinook salmon and steelhead in violation of the ESA. Now, the Army Corps is required to change operations at multiple dams to prioritize fish passage and improve water quality.

Our Living Willamette River Initiative ensures that the Army Corps implements measurable improvements to the ecological health and function of the river itself in a timely and effective manner. We are working with allies to hold the Corps accountable to making the long-term changes needed to restore a Living Willamette River and the imperiled species it sustains.