YKFP News

F all chinook salmon make record return to Columbia River (The Columbian, Sept. 17, 2013)
Old mark already surpassed, with three months left in run

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Columbia Riverkeeper sues over dams' pollution (The Columbian, July 31, 2013)
Advocacy group details series of oil discharges on Columbia, Snake rivers

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Lamprey: bringing back an ancient species (The Seattle Times, July 14, 2013)

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Eighth annual White Salmon RiverFest & Symposium (Hood River News, July 8th, 2013)

Community tradition continues with Riverfest (White Salmon Enterprise, July 8th, 2013)

White Salmon Riverfest & Symposium press release and symposium agenda

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Environmental Groups Applaud White Salmon Ruling (Oregon Public Broadcasting, June 11, 2013)

Judge thwarts White Salmon development (Sustainable Business Oregon, June 11, 2013)

Judge blocks rezone on White Salmon River (The Columbian, June 10, 2013)

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A Year After Condit Dam Breaching, Natural Origin Salmonids Spawn In New Miles Of Upstream Habitat
(Columbia Basin Bulletin, May 31, 2013)

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Tribes' salmon court win may go way beyond $1B in culvert repairs (The Seattle Times, March 31, 2013)

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The White Salmon River Runs Free: Breaching the Condit Dam (Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon Field Guide special, Feb. 21, 2013)

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Dam removal lures endangered salmon (Portland Tribune, Sustainable Life, Nov. 15, 2012)

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Exploring The Undammed White Salmon River, At Last (Oregon Public Broadcasting Earthfix, November 14, 2012)

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With Condit Dam gone, access restored to White Salmon River (The Columbian, November 5, 2012)

PacifiCorp has lifted access restrictions on the lower White Salmon River, opening the entire waterway to recreation and rafting for the first time, just more than one year after the breaching of Condit Dam, which long severed the lower three miles of the river from the rest of the watershed. But with the dam now gone, and other work in the area winding down, PacifiCorp on Monday announced the reopening of the river below Northwestern Park.

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Yakamas remain opposed to coal exporting on Columbia River (Yakima Herald, November 4, 2012)

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Salmon Spawners Make Way Past Former White Salmon River Dam Site For First Time In Nearly 100 Years (Columbia Basin Bulletin, October 12, 2012)

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White Salmon Homecoming Marks River's New Direction (Oregon Public Broadcasting, September 30, 2012)

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Welcome back, White Salmon River (The Seattle Times, September 27, 2012)

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Dam-free river plots new course (The Columbian, Sept. 25, 2012)
Changes unfold for the White Salmon now that Condit Dam is gone

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White Salmon River Homecoming Event Celebration--update (News release, Sept. 25, 2012)

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Condit Dam removal complete (The Columbian, Sept. 15, 2012)

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Yakama Nation and partners host White Salmon River Homecoming Celebration (News release, Sept. 5, 2012)

Event poster

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Demolition Of Washington's Condit Dam Nearing Completion (Oregon Public Broadcasting, August 31, 2012)

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PacifiCorp asks for extension on Condit Dam removal (The Columbian, August 21, 2012)

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Migrating steelhead return to White Salmon (kgw.com. July 20, 2012)

Signs Of Recolonization: Salmon, Steelhead Seen Jumping Falls Above Breached Condit Dam (Columbia Basin Bulletin, July 20, 2012)

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Steelhead swimming up White Salmon River, first since Condit Dam breach (The Oregonian, July 18, 2012)

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Fish confirmed above Condit Dam (The Columbian, July 17, 2012)

Fish swim upstream of Condit Dam after breaching (The Seattle Times, July 17, 2012)

Salmon spotted upstream of breached Condit Dam (King5.com, July 17, 2012)

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River accessible to upstream salmon migration after ninety-nine year absence (Yakama Nation, July 16, 2012)
Yakama Nation and USGS confirm anadromous salmonids migrating into upper White Salmon River above Condit Dam for first time in a century

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Condit Dam removal nearing completion, possibly safe for boaters in September (The Oregonian, July 11, 2012)

Crews chip away at Condit Dam (The Vancouver Columbian, July 11, 2012)

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Dam-olition under way at Condit (The Vancouver Columbian, March 18, 2012)

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With Condit Dam Gone, New Growth Threatens White Salmon River (Oregon Public Broadcasting, March 5, 2012)

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Washington High Court Says State Has No Legal Jurisdiction Over Tribes At Treaty Fishing Access Site (Columbia Basin Bulletin, February 10, 2012)

Tribes Release Comprehensive Lamprey Restoration Plan Aimed At Reversing Plummeting Numbers (Columbia Basin Bulletin, 12/30/2011)
Four Columbia River treaty tribes last week released what they say is the most comprehensive restoration plan for Pacific lamprey in the basin.

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Researchers Study How White Salmon River Responds To Dam Breaching; Right Now ‘Lots Of Mud’ (Columbia Basin Bulletin, 11/11/2011)

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New White Salmon River bed after dam breach (Northwest Cable News Network, 11/9/2011)

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Breach of Condit Dam provides closure for many parties (White Salmon Enterprise, accessed 11/7/2011)

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Rafting guide makes first river trip after Condit Dam breaching (The Columbian, 11/2/2011)

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Public warned of danger around breached dam (Yakima Herald, 11/1/2011)

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Blast Drains Condit Dam’s Reservoir On White Salmon River; Dam Structure Removal Set For Spring 2012 (Columbia Basin Bulletin, 10/28/2011)

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Husum Falls Becomes Focal Point After Condit Dam Goes Down (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 10/27/2011)

Condit Dam is breached, letting the White Salmon River run free (video) (The Oregonian, 10/27/2011)

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With a boom and a flash of light, Condit Dam is breached and White Salmon River unleashed (The Oregonian, 10/26/2011)

The White Salmon runs wild (The Oregonian, 10/26/2011)

Condit Dam breached by PacifiCorp explosion; White Salmon River recovery begins (video) (The Oregonian, 10/26/2011)

Big Bang At Dam Launches Hopes For Salmon And Kayakers (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 10/26/2011)

Crews breach Condit Dam in Washington (Associated Press, 10/26/2011)

Condit Dam to be demolished Wednesday (Seattle Times, 10/26/2011)

Crews prep to bring down Condit Dam at noon today (KATU News, 10/26/2011)

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White Salmon River and Northwestern Lake closing to all fishing to prepare for dam demolition (Seattle Times, 10/24/2011)

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A White Salmon River free of Condit Dam is monumental for tribal elder, kayaker and a fish biologist
(The Oregonian, 10/23/2011)

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Tribes Complete Pilot Test For Operating Corps-Built Salmon Processing Facility Near White Salmon (Columbia Basin Bulletin, 10/21/2011)

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PacifiCorp final Condit safety closure announcement (PacifiCorp, 10/20/2011)

Closures implemented for breach of White Salmon River's Condit Dam (KOINLocal6.com, 10/20/11)

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It took many people to bring down Condit Dam (Seattle Times, 10/18/2011)

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Condit Dam next to tumble in restoration plan (Seattle Times, 10/2/2011)

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Run Free, White Salmon (Yakima Herald-Republic, 9/24/2011)

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White Salmon River Fall Chinook Captured, Moved Upstream In Preparation For Condit Dam Removal (Columbia Basin Bulletin, 9/23/2011)

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Moving Day for Fish at White Salmon (KGW News, 9/22/2011)

Collaborative effort leads to clean river before Condit Dam comes out (White Salmon Enterprise, 9/22/2011)

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White Salmon River Fish transfer (The Oregonian, 9/21/2011)

Biologists move fish out of the way ahead of dam removal (KATU News, 9/21/2011)

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Biologists Move Threatened Chinook As Condit Dam Comes Down (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 9/20/2011)

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White Salmon River in Washington gets a cleanup before Condit Dam is removed
(The Oregonian, 9/18/2011)

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Salmon moved to native waters before Condit Dam is breached (Vancouver Columbian, 9/17/2011)

Video of Capture & Transport (The Columbian, 9/17/2011)

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Cleaning Up Large Debris In Preparation For Condit Dam Breaching; Reservoir To Empty In 6 Hours (Columbia Basin Bulletin, 9/7/2011)

Yakama Nation and Partners pull together White Salmon River Confluence Clean-Up and Trash Rodeo for September 17th (9/6/2011)
Save the date and join volunteers on September 17th for the White Salmon River Confluence Clean-Up and Trash Rodeo! The goal of this event is two-fold: to remove derelict boats and garbage accumulated at the mouth of the White Salmon River, and to clean up popular bank-fishing areas downstream of Condit Dam.

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Fishing on White Salmon River to close one day for cleanup before dam removal (WDFW, 9/6/2011)
The lower portion of the White Salmon River will be closed to fishing for 12 hours Sept. 17 to allow an interagency clean-up team to remove derelict boats, camping gear and other debris before Condit Dam is breached in late October.

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Crews prepare to let White Salmon River run again (Vancouver Columbian, 8/19/2011)
Current work precedes breaching of Condit Dam in October

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Klickitat Fishway Nearing Completion (Vancouver Columbian, 8/12/2011)

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Lower Klickitat Fish Passage Project Offers Way to Future (White Salmon Enterprise, 8/2/2011)

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Condit Dam Removal Likely To Bring More Bull Trout, Lamprey To White Salmon River Basin
(Columbia Basin Bulletin 6/17/2011)
Salmon always get the headlines, but two other beleaguered species -- Pacific lamprey and bull trout – could also benefit from the opening up of southern Washington’s White Salmon River with removal of Condit Dam.

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Final Regulatory Approval Sets $32 Million Decommissioning of Condit Dam for this Fall
(Columbia Basin Bulletin 6/17/2011)
Decommissioning the hydroelectric project is now moving forward which will provide up to 33 miles of high quality habitat for salmon, steelhead, and other fish.

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Pacificorp to remove Condit Dam (6/14/11)
After 98 years of generating power, Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in south central Washington will start to be removed this fall, fulfilling a settlement agreement with multiple parties including the Yakama Nation signed in 1999.

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Date Set to Breach Condit Dam (Vancouver Columbian, 6/14/11)

PacifiCorp will begin demolishing 98-year-old Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in late October, removing a barrier to passage of salmon and steelhead.

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YKFP hosts Fourth Annual Klickitat & White Salmon Rivers (Columbia Gorge) Science Conference (3/18/11)
For the fourth consecutive year, the YKFP, with the support of the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, presented its fisheries and watershed science conference at The Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, OR on Mar. 15, 2011. Topics ranged from Powerdale Dam removal to glacial retreat to water availability to cutting edge habitat enhancement, representing the work of a spectrum of agencies and organizations. Thanks to all presenters and participants for helping make this year's conference a success!
To access abstracts and presentations, click on the corresponding links on the agenda page, or here for the Save-the-Date notice.

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PacificCorp, Counties Strike Agreement Offsetting Impacts Of Decommissioning Condit Dam (Columbia Basin Bulletin, 11/19/2010)
Representatives of PacifiCorp, Klickitat County and Skamania County announced a tentative agreement concerning decommissioning of the Condit Hydroelectric Project located on the White Salmon River in southwestern Washington.

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Water Quality Certificate Issued For Demolishing 125-Foot Condit Dam On White Salmon River (Columbia Basin Bulletin, 10/15/10)
The Washington Department of Ecology on Tuesday issued the Section 401 Water Quality Certification to PacifiCorp Energy which will allow the company to continue to move forward with its plan to remove Condit Dam on the White Salmon River.

Condit Dam removal gets key certification (Vancouver Columbian article, 10/13/10)
State environmental regulators have granted a key permit necessary for PacifiCorp to remove Condit Dam from the White Salmon River.

Wash. state approves permit to remove Condit Dam (Associated Press, 10/13/10)

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Designates Critical Habitat for Bull Trout (10/12/10)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases its final, revised critical habitat designation for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), a threatened species found throughout much of the Pacific Northwest and protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, including portions of the Klickitat and White Salmon watersheds.

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YKFP, BPA and USFWS to host Third Annual Klickitat & White Salmon Rivers Fisheries and Watershed Science Conference (3/16/10)

The third annual fisheries conference will be held at The Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, OR on Mar. 16, 2010. Presentations will span a wide range of topics from lamprey research to Mt. Adams geology to dam removal to the latest in fish habitat restoration, representing the work of a spectrum of organizations from conservation districts, non-governmental organizations, tribes and natural resource agencies. The YKFP is partnering with Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make this event possible. Click to read the Announcement or Agenda, including copies of the presentations.

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YKFP's KWEP Chairs "Restoration Partnerships and Strategies" Session at River Restoration Northwest Conference (2/4/10)

River Restoration Northwest’s (RRNW) ninth annual Stream Restoration Design Symposium took place on February 1-4, 2010. The conference focuses on stream restoration design and questions of concern to project planners, designers, engineers, biologists, geologists, regulators, land managers or owners, and community stewards throughout the Pacific Northwest. Conference attendance routinely exceeds 400 attendees. Will Conley, hydrologist and project manager for the Klickitat Watershed Enhancement Project (KWEP), serving as RRNW's Tribal Liaison chaired a session on "Restoration Partnerships and Strategies" and hosted the Wednesday lunch session for attendees from tribes and first nations, attended by 29 individuals from 9 tribes. Conley also gave an oral presentation on performance and lessons learned with the TepeeIXL project on the Klickitat River as part of the "Case Studies - I" session, and made arrangements for a speaker for the Yukon River Inter-tribal Watershed Council to attend and present at the conference.

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Link to Tribal Nations Conference at the White House on Economic Development, Natural Resources, Energy, Environment and Agriculture Panel (11/05/09)

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President Obama Proclaims November 2009 Native American Heritage Month (10/30/09)

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Hemlock Dam Removal Complete (8/14/09)

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Work Begins on Hemlock Dam Removal and Trout Creek Restoration Project (7/09)

Hemlock Dam, an aging concrete structure that once provided power and later irrigation to the CCC and Forest Service, will be dismantled to improve habitat, water quality and passage for ESA-listed ("Threatened") Lower Columbia River steelhead in Trout Creek, a tributary to the Wind River in southwest Washington. This project will improve conditions for the fish and restore natural riverine processes to lower Trout Creek, a Tier 1 watershed once known for producing a disproportionately large share of the wild steelhead in the Wind River. USFS personnel along with fisheries staff from the Yakama Nation, USGS Columbia River Research Lab and other organizations recently relocated over 2500 fish from upstream of the dam site in preparation for its removal. An on-site webcam provided by Wind River Canopy Crane Project can be operated from your PC to zoom in and see the project's progress in real time.

Vancouver Columbian article about the fish removal operation

Columbia Basin Bulletin article about dam removal

USFS Hemlock Dam Removal Press Release

Write-up about Hemlock Dam removal with photos from American Rivers

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State Eases Way for Condit Dam Removal (Vancouver Columbian article, 6/7/2009)

Environmental Review Addresses Sediments Behind Condit Dam (Ecology, 6/4/2009)

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Fisheries Delegation from Peoples' Republic of China visits Columbia and Yakima River facilities (4/22/09)

Chinese Fishery delegation tours Lyle Falls adult fish trap with YKFP staff A delegation from the People’s Republic of China toured sites in the Columbia and the Mississippi river basins last week, making stops to Bonneville Dam, USFWS' Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery, Lyle Falls on the Klickitat River, and YKFP's Cle Elum Research, Hatchery and Acclimation Facility on the upper Yakima River. The delegation was here to learn about the conservation of nationally significant fishery resources in these large river systems, with their focus on maintaining and improving habitats and populations. Chinese Fishery Delegation poses with YKFP at Lyle Falls on the Klickitat River, WA. As China is rapidly urbanizing, policy has focused on economic development as the first priority, where the fishery resource is valued primarily as a source of food and livelihood. In recent years, however, China has been placing increasing emphasis on conserving habitat and biodiversity. Still, the effects of urbanization, industrialization, and newly constructed dams continue to aggregate. International exchanges such as this one allow American fishery scientists and managers to establish professional and personal relationships to share scientific information and techniques, as well as sharing our conservation experiences with the Chinese, and to help China to balance the economic needs of its people with the conservation needs of fishery resources and aquatic biodiversity.

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YKFP's KWEP presents at SRFB Salmon Habitat Conference (4/17/09)

Klickitat Watershed Enhancement Project staff recently presented at the Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board's second Salmon Habitat Conference, April 15-16, 2009 in Olympia, WA. The conference, subtitled "Building Better Projects", celebrated 10 years of SRFB projects while emphasizing "lessons learned." Will Conley, hydrologist and project manager for the KWEP was invited to present results from the Lower Klickitat Riparian Revegetation and Tepee Creek IXL Meadows Restoration projects as part of the "Riparian Restoration" and "In-stream Habitat" sessions, respectively. Both presentations highlighted pertinent site conditions, design decisions, results, and insights. For more details and to view the presentations, see the KWEP Presentations & Publications link on the Habitat page.

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Second Annual Klickitat & White Salmon Rivers Fisheries and Watershed Science Conference (3/17/09)

Thanks to Bonneville Power Administration and USFWS for helping co-sponsor this year's Washington Gorge science conference which was held at the Discovery Center in The Dalles, OR March 10, 2009. And a hearty thank you as well to all presenters and attendees for making this year's conference a success! Click to read the Announcement or Agenda, including copies of the presentations.

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YKFP's KWEP at River Restoration Northwest Conference (2/10/09)

Will Conley, hydrologist and project manager for the Klickitat Watershed Enhancement Project (KWEP), chaired a session featuring restoration and enhancement projects by northwest tribes at River Restoration Northwest’s (RRNW) eighth annual Stream Restoration Design Symposium February 2-5, 2009. Mr. Conley, who serves as RRNW’s liaison to Tribes and First Nations, hosts the annual luncheon for attendees from tribal programs which this year included 27 participants from 8 tribes, as well as presenting a poster overview of KWEP activities and accomplishments. The conference focuses on stream restoration design and questions of concern to project planners, designers, engineers, biologists, regulators, land managers or owners, and community stewards throughout the Pacific Northwest, and routinely has over 300 attendees. Click to view KWEP poster from the conference.

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BPA Finalizes EIS on Lyle Falls Fish Passage Project (11/19/08)

Bonneville Power Administration has finalized the Environmental Impact Statement for the Lyle Falls Fish Passage Project on the Klickitat River. The Final EIS consists of changes to the Draft EIS, written comments and responses. The project seeks to improve existing fish passage at Lyle Falls to increase escapement to the upper subbasin and to facilitate collection and monitoring of biological information for future fishery management. Based on the Final EIS, BPA expects to make a decision on any action on the project in Dec. 2008. This record of decision will be made available to the public; activities could begin in Spring 2009.

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First Tule Fall Chinook Spawning above Condit Dam since 1913 thanks to Pilot Project (10/10/08)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently completed a test run of a collaborative project which involved trapping adult Tule fall chinook salmon, native to the White Salmon River, in the lower river and transporting them above the impassable Condit Dam for release. YN Fisheries assisted in this effort. The project would be repeated next fall to salvage as many naturally produced spawners in the lower river as possible before the dam's scheduled removal in October 2009 so their eggs won't be inundated by the sediment-laden waters released from behind the dam. Biologists enumerated 69 redds between Condit Dam and Husum Falls.
Chinook transported above Condit Dam (The Columbian, 9/18/08)

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NOAA's Fisheries Service announces availability of a Proposed Middle Columbia River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment ESA Recovery Plan in the Federal Register (09/24/08)

The NOAA draft plan for the first time incorporates multiple locally-generated recovery plans, including the Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board's Yakima Steelhead Recovery Plan, a locally-developed recovery plan for the Walla Walla and Touchet Rivers drafted by the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, a plan drafted by the State of Oregon for the Umatilla, John Day, Deschutes and Hood River basins, and plans drafted by NOAA Fisheries for the White Salmon, Klickitat and Rock Creek Basins.

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Northwest Power and Conservation Council Gives the Yakama Nation Go-ahead to Launch into Final Design for new Klickitat River Subbasin Hatchery Facilities (08/22/08)

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Klickitat Anadromous Fishery Master Plan Submitted to NWPCC(03.31.08)

The Yakama Nation submitted the Klickitat River Anadromous Fisheries Master Plan to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council to fulfill Step I requirements for major projects to reform hatchery practices. The Yakama Nation proposes to implement improvements to the existing Klickitat Hatchery near Glenwood, Washington, as well as to the Lyle Falls Fishway and broodstock collection facility, and the Castile Falls Fishway and escapement monitoring facility on the Klickitat River.

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Tribal leaders and federal agencies sign a buckskin to cement the 10-year partnership agreement. Photo Laura Gephart.

The recent Columbia Basin Partnership observed at the signing ceremony on May 2, 2008 at Horsethief Lake State Park near Dallesport, WA formalized a new working relationship between Columbia Basin tribes, states, and federal agencies with responsibility to manage and protect Pacific Northwest salmon and their habitats. In the Klickitat Subbasin this new partnership provides secured resources to continue the gains in habitat preservation and restoration, implementation of needed hatchery reform measures, and the ability to monitor management actions over time. More.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Lyle Falls Fish Passage Project
Available for Public Review

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Lyle Falls Fish Passage project located on the lower Klickitat River in Klickitat County, Washington. The draft EIS is available for public review. The proposed action would modify the existing fishway and be designed to safely and more effectively allow adult fish to move through the existing Lyle Falls into spawning areas of the upper reaches of the Klickitat River. The project would facilitate collection and monitoring of biological information for future fishery management. Draft available at www.efw.bpa.gov/environmental_services/Document_Library/Lyle_Falls/. BPA will host a public meeting on the draft EIS on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Lyle Lions Club Community Center, located at 5th Street and State Highway 14 in Lyle, Washington. During the meeting, BPA and others involved in the project will present an overview of the draft EIS, discuss the project, reply to questions and receive any written comments.

YKFP and Partners host first Klickitat & White Salmon Rivers Fisheries and Watershed Science Conference (Feb. 2008)

The Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, OR was the venue for the first annual science conference for the Klickitat and White Salmon rivers on Feb. 27, 2008. Sixteen speakers presented a wealth of fisheries and watershed-related information to 110 attendees representing a spectrum of organizations from municipal and county governments, timber interests, state and federal agencies, citizens’ groups, non-profits and tribes. The YKFP would like to thank our partners, Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Discovery Center, the presenters and all participants for helping to make this year’s conference a success. We look forward to expanding the event next year, and hope to see you there—stay tuned!

Links to presentations given at the conference are available by clicking on the title of the presentation on the agenda page.

Members of the management board of the Pacific Ocean Shelf Tracking (POST) project, which monitors the movement of marine animals (such as juvenile salmon) through an array of listening stations set along the west coast of North America, toured Lyle Falls on Sept. 6. YKFP staff and POST Project Coordinators discussed the possible inclusion of Klickitat Hatchery and wild salmon stocks as an addition to this study.

The History Channel segment to feature Lyle Falls, YKFP rotary screw trap (August 2007)

The History Channel came to the Klickitat River July 2 to film a segment on "traps" for its series Modern Marvels. The episode, first airing August 27, will focus on fish trapping technologies of the Columbia Basin and the importance of salmon to the cultural identity of the Pacific Northwest. Filming locations were on the Klickitat River (Lyle Adult trap, dipnet fishery, and rotary screw trap) and at Bonneville Dam Adult Fish Collection Facility.

Sin Wit Ki ("All Life on Earth") Yakama Nation Fisheries newsletter (Adobe .pdf), Spring 2007

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