Today, Governor Tina Kotek welcomed a federal court order directing the restoration of salmon protections on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, calling it a win for the future sustainability of endangered salmon and for the sovereign tribal nations who have fought for generations to protect them:

"Judge Simon made the right call, and I concur with his repudiation of the Trump administration’s refusal to uphold salmon protections in the Columbia Basin. This decision lets us move forward focused on what really matters – restoring fish populations, meeting energy demand, and building a clean energy future for the Pacific Northwest.

“This ruling establishes dam operations similar to those over the past five years, with some modest adjustments in spill and reservoir elevations to reduce the harm to migrating salmon and steelhead. Recent preliminary analysis by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council indicates this will have modest impacts on power generation, our ability to meet peak demand, and our region’s overall ability to maintain a reliable, affordable power system."