Salmon and the current state of the union

Where we stand eight months into a new U.S. administration

Recent political shifts in the United States are creating new headwinds for wild salmon, steelhead, and trout. Wild Salmon Center’s federal affairs team is closely tracking these challenges for wild fish conservation—along with a few new opportunities—in the 119th U.S. Congress and second Trump Administration.

“Wild Salmon Center has successfully worked with every U.S. administration in our history,” says Wild Salmon Center President & CEO Guido Rahr. “That’s because our wild places and public lands heritage transcend politics. They matter to every American.”

Wild Salmon Center has successfully worked with every U.S. administration in our decades-long history. We believe that wild places and our public lands heritage are values that matter to every American. (Photo: Wild Salmon Center Ambassador Jeff Hickman on Oregon’s Nehalem River. Credit: Jeremy Koreski.)

That said, Rahr notes, the Trump Administration has been clear that it wants to dramatically reshape the federal workforce and budgeting landscape.

“We have hard work ahead of us, to fit salmon and river conservation into this Administration’s agenda,” he says. “We know this will take strategy, credibility, and trust.”

Below we share some recent wins on the national stage, even as we note setbacks. We also spotlight critical conversations taking place right now in Washington, D.C.—ones that could swing several ways for salmon and their home rivers.

“Wild Salmon Center has successfully worked with every U.S. administration in our history. We have hard work ahead of us, to fit salmon and river conservation into this Administration’s agenda.”
Wild Salmon Center President and CEO Guido Rahr

Progress we’re making

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL DEFEND BRISTOL BAY

In July, we received good news from the U.S. Department of Justice, when the agency announced that it would uphold and defend federal decisions that effectively block the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to one of the world’s greatest wild salmon fisheries.

The two decisions—a 2020 U.S. Army Corps rejection of a key mine permit and the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 decision to invoke the Clean Water Act to protect Bristol Bay’s headwaters from future versions of Pebble—are both being challenged in federal court by Pebble backer Northern Dynasty Minerals.

In July, the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice announced that it will uphold and defend two federal decisions that block the Pebble Mine—and mines like it—from the headwaters of America’s greatest salmon fishery. (Photo: Bristol Bay sockeye. Credit: Cassie Bergman.)

Now, as the litigation moves forward in court, Wild Salmon Center and our partners in the Bristol Bay Defense Fund will fight alongside the full force of the U.S. government to ensure that mining threats never again put this irreplaceable salmon stronghold at risk.

BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO SAFEGUARD FLOODPLAINS

In May, Senators Patti Murray (D-WA) and Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act: bipartisan legislation that Wild Salmon Center worked closely with Congressional leaders to shape.

The bill aims to accelerate permitting processes for ecosystem restoration in regulated floodplains: federally-managed floodplains within salmon watersheds that dot the coastal Pacific Northwest.

“Permitting reform is a goal of this Congress,” says Wild Salmon Center Federal Affairs Director Jess Helsley. “We agree that there are places where streamlining processes are necessary.”

A place to start, Helsley says, is in floodplains regulated by FEMA, where cost-effective, nature-based solutions that aim to improve infrastructure and aquatic resources are currently held up by burdensome federal red tape. The Floodplain Enhancement and Recovery Act, she says, is a commonsense fix to this problem.

In Washington State, the Chehalis Basin is a key example of a flood-prone watershed where significant floodplain areas are regulated by agencies like FEMA. Wild Salmon Center’s federal affairs team recently worked with U.S. Senators Patti Murray (D-WA) and Steve Daines (R-MT) to introduce a bill that would streamline permitting for nature-based flood control solutions and aquatic species recovery. (Photo: Chehalis River valley. Credit: Shane Anderson.)

“Accelerating permitting for low-risk projects in low-risk areas means we can speed and scale the habitat restoration projects that salmon need,” Helsley says. “It also means our friends and neighbors can access more solutions to decrease the risk of flood damage in their communities.”

“Permitting reform is a goal of this Congress. Accelerating permitting for low-risk projects in low-risk areas means we can speed and scale projects that salmon need.”
Wild Salmon Center Federal Affairs Director Jess Helsley

Issues we’re tracking

Beyond these bright spots, however, looms a wave of potentially damaging executive orders, policy changes, and unprecedented budget cuts. Collectively, they could reverse decades of progress for the conservation and management of America’s wild fish and wild places—at a moment when, after decades of investment, we’re starting to make real progress for wild salmon and their rivers.

PUBLIC LAND SALES

Case in point: millions of acres of American public lands were nearly sold off in June, as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Brought by Utah Senator Mike Lee, these land sale provisions were ultimately defeated, thanks in part to strong advocacy from key Wild Salmon Center board members and other partners in our conservation network. For the moment, these lands are safe from further development and resource extraction, but Rahr notes that Senator Lee and his allies continue to push for public land sales through other avenues.

“Wild Salmon Center and our partners are closely tracking these developments and remain engaged with political and agency leaders,” Rahr says. “We’re going to work every angle to keep these special places whole.”

“Wild Salmon Center and our partners are going to work every angle to keep these special places whole.”
Wild Salmon Center President and CEO Guido Rahr

Fishing California's Smith River — Public lands in areas like the Red Flat, part of the larger Smith River Basin, have long been the target of mining interests. Mining is the most dangerous threat to salmon and steelhead in the Smith River, a key California salmon stronghold with tributaries that reach into Oregon. (PC: Ken Morrish.)

MAINTAINING CORE FEDERAL CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE PROGRAMS

Right now, core functions in many federal agencies are challenged by workforce reductions and budget cuts—from fish monitoring at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the National Resources Conservation Service’s popular conservation grant programs for farmers.

With our partners, we’re working to ensure that NOAA and other natural resource agencies get the funding they need to manage salmon fisheries, restore critical habitats, and perform other essential functions necessary to safeguard wild salmon. This includes funding support for the scientific research that drives the productivity of America’s fisheries.

Commercial fisheries like Bristol Bay generate billions of dollars in economic activity for America. Data, monitoring, and harvest guidance from federal scientists is key to keeping U.S. fisheries healthy and productive. (Photo: commercial fishers, Nushagak River, Bristol Bay, Alaska. Credit: Perry Broderick.)

“Every year, salmon fishers rely on federal scientists to provide high quality harvest forecasts, identify where and when to fish, and help keep watersheds healthy,” says Wild Salmon Center Science Director Dr. Matthew Sloat. “Without skilled federal scientists and managers, American fisheries would be less prepared and less productive. We must hold on to this talent.”

As of this summer, our federal affairs team is in full court press to ensure that Congressional appropriations include funding for these core salmon programs and others. Congress faces an end-of September deadline for these decisions—after which we’ll aim to ensure that the Administration spends these funds as directed by Congress.

“Without skilled federal scientists and managers, American fisheries would be less prepared and less productive. We must hold on to this talent.”
Wild Salmon Center Science Director Dr. Matthew Sloat

ADVANCING THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE REBUILDING AMERICAN RIVERS

Conservation nonprofits like Wild Salmon Center have been essential partners of the U.S. government for decades. In many cases, we coordinate—and quite literally are—the shovels and boots that put federal investments to work.

Wild Salmon Center has a long history of working with federal agencies to advance science, coastal restoration, and fisheries management. And these agencies have noted the efficiency and effectiveness of these partnerships. In 2024, NOAA cited the ongoing river restoration work of the Wild Salmon Center-led Coast Coho Partnership as key to recovery trends for Oregon Coast coho salmon.

“Right now, we’ve increased coho salmon abundance to the point where we have a real shot at delisting the first salmon species ever under the Endangered Species Act,” Rahr says. “But it’s happening at a moment when the federal partnerships that drive this work are deeply at risk. We’re working with leaders from both parties to protect the funds needed to complete the recovery of wild coho.”

“Right now, we have a real shot at delisting the first salmon species ever under the Endangered Species Act. We’re working with leaders from both parties to complete the recovery of wild coho.”
Wild Salmon Center President and CEO Guido Rahr

Salmon and the current state of the union