For generations, the salmon of the Columbia River Basin have sustained the cultural, spiritual, and economic life of tribes and communities in the Pacific Northwest. But today, those fish are vanishing — and now, the federal government is abandoning one of the most hopeful agreements we’ve ever had to bring them back.

In late 2023, the U.S. joined tribes, conservationists, and state governments in a historic deal: the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement. It paused decades of costly legal battles, committed over $1 billion to salmon restoration, and offered a path forward that respected tribal treaty rights, protected clean energy, and brought everyone to the table.

The agreement didn’t just protect salmon — it also promised to replace the hydropower generated by the Lower Snake River dams with new, clean energy projects. It balanced ecological recovery with energy reliability, ensuring the region could meet its power needs while giving salmon a fighting chance.

But now, President Trump has abruptly withdrawn from that agreement — calling it “radical environmentalism” and shattering a rare moment of collaboration.

This isn’t just about fish. It’s about honoring the treaties that the U.S. government signed with Northwest tribes. It’s about building a clean energy future. And it’s about keeping promises to work together, not unilaterally discarding them.

We can’t let this decision stand.

We call on Congress to immediately reaffirm the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement and ensure funding, cooperation, and clean energy commitments continue. Our future — and the future of the salmon — depends on it.

Add your name to demand justice for tribes, a future for wild salmon, and a real clean energy plan for the Northwest.