How Oregon’s Water System Can Adapt to a New Climate Reality
If drought and heat are becoming Oregon’s new normal, it’s in everyone’s interest to adapt our water management framework to this complex reality.
Climate Change
Climate Change
Climate change, combined with legacy problems from poor development and poor fisheries management, is having a major impact on wild salmon and steelhead across their range in the North Pacific.
From persistent drought conditions to heat waves to warmer oceans, we’re seeing increased climate events.
Wild Salmon Center’s approach to climate change is two-fold.
One, we’re working to accelerate targeted local actions that reverse historic problems and restore the resilience of rivers and fish. This gives wild salmon time to adapt to changing conditions, while the world works to stop climate change.
Read our climate framework “Ready for Change” to dig into this approach.
Two, we’re working to protect and restore large salmon watersheds that can slow climate change. An analysis in 2021 found a strong correlation between salmon strongholds and high value lands for carbon sequestration.
Read more about our ongoing climate-related work below.
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What Glacier Melt Means For Salmon
Retreating ice has huge implications for salmon—including the need to proactively protect emerging salmon habitat.
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Restoring the Quillayute, Before It Floods La Push
Gouged by flooding and human interference, the Quillayute River could soon change course—and flood the Quileute village of La Push. Slowing its path is a win-win for both people and fish.
