Historic progress is underway to implement the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI)! As members of Congress begin the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process, we urge them to include robust funding for key federal programs that support the restoration of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.

The CBRI, developed by the Six Sovereigns in 2023, establishes for the first time a comprehensive, regionally supported roadmap to rebuild imperiled native fish populations, honor Tribal treaty rights, and restore healthy ecosystems while supporting a robust Pacific Northwest economy. Support for and collaborative implementation of the CBRI is essential to the health and economy of the Columbia/Snake Basin.   

Salmon and steelhead are an irreplaceable part of the environment, economy, and heritage of the Northwest. Every year, returning adult salmon make the long journey back from the ocean to their spawning grounds in the Columbia River Basin. Along the way, they become a food source for some 140 other species from Southern Resident orcas to bald eagles and provide nutrients to the ecosystems around them. 

These species are also the center of robust commercial and sportfishing industries that sustain good-paying jobs throughout the region. Commercial ocean fisheries from California to Alaska harvest Columbia River Salmon and recreational fishing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana alone generates a combined $7.5 billion in annual economic output and supports over 50,000 jobs. 

And salmon and steelhead are a cornerstone of culture in the Northwest, especially for the Tribal Nations who hold treaty-reserved fishing rights. At a time when many salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin are at or near all-time lows, it is critical that the federal government provides needed funding for programs that support the recovery of these important fish. 

We are asking members of Congress to include the following investments in the FY26 appropriations bills, showing support for the same request made by the Six Sovereigns: 
- At least $96 million for Pacific Salmon (NOAA) 
- At least $70 million for the PCSRF (NOAA) 
- At least $34 million for the Mitchell Act (NOAA) 
- At least $58.6 million for Pacific Salmon Treaty (split between DOI, NOAA, and State)

Please join us and ACT NOW to urge your members of Congress to include funding to recover salmon and invest in our communities—moving everyone forward together!