Trump admin pulls US out of agreement to help restore salmon in the Columbia River

President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew the U. S. from the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, which aimed to restore salmon populations and enhance tribal clean energy initiatives in the Pacific Northwest. The agreement, reached in late 2023, was celebrated by the Biden administration and conservationists, who viewed it as a historic step toward resolving long-standing environmental and legal disputes. Critics, including Democratic U.

S. Sen. Patty Murray, condemned Trump's decision as shortsighted and harmful to regional interests, arguing it undermines efforts to recover salmon runs. The Columbia River Basin, once the world's greatest salmon-producing river system, has experienced drastic declines, with several species now endangered or extinct. Fisheries scientists have suggested that breaching specific dams could be crucial for salmon recovery by restoring access to spawning grounds.

Tribal leaders expressed concern that the administration's actions reflect a pattern of broken promises and disregard for tribal rights. The agreement had promised over $1 billion in funding for salmon recovery and new clean energy projects. Trump's withdrawal has reignited debates surrounding environmental management, tribal rights, and the future of energy development in the region.