Grand Ronde Salmon Strength Initiative

Tribal Council established the Salmon Strength Initiative to: 1) identify and monitor the most pressing issues affecting salmon populations; and 2) develop recommendations, policies, and actions to protect and preserve the most vulnerable populations. A key goal for the Tribes initiative is to recover Willamette Basin salmon and 2025 - 2026 efforts are focused on dam operations and policies. Funds for this project will be used for contracted services to participate in salmon recovery and conservation planning. Actions will be focused throughout the Willamette Basin on the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) newly released Willamette System Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Supplemental EIS (SEIS) anticipated in 2026, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Willamette River Biological Opinion. The Tribe will utilize a contractor to participate in the planning process for the management of the Willamette dam system for fish recovery.

Salmon are a cornerstone resource for nutrition and ceremony for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and their importance cannot be overstated. The Tribe is committed to protecting and restoring salmon populations in the Willamette Basin. Tribal Council established the Salmon Strength Initiative, which aims to identify and monitor the most pressing issues affecting salmon populations and develop recommendations, policies, and actions to protect and preserve the most vulnerable populations. The contracted services under this project will benefit salmonids by coordinating the Tribe’s Salmon Strength Initiative, support participation in the Willamette System Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Supplemental EIS (SEIS) process, and provide technical input to implement solutions described in NOAA’s Willamette River Biological Opinion.