The Trump administration's decision to revoke the Columbia River Basin salmon recovery memorandum represents more than just another policy reversal; it's an abandonment of scientific consensus, federal treaty obligations, and the long-term economic health of the Pacific Northwest. By framing salmon and steelhead recovery as merely a "green agenda," the administration fundamentally misunderstands the complex web of ecological, legal, and economic factors that make these fish essential to the region's future.

The Science Is Clear: Dams Are the Problem

For decades, scientific evidence has consistently demonstrated that the four Lower Snake River dams are the primary obstacle preventing the recovery of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin. These populations, once numbering in the millions, have declined to historic lows despite billions of dollars spent on mitigation efforts. The recently completed Klamath River dam removal, the largest in U.S. history, has already shown dramatic results, with salmon and steelhead populations rebounding rapidly after dam removal.

The administration's claim that dam removal would eliminate "over 3,000 megawatts of secure and reliable hydroelectric generating capacity" overlooks the reality that the Lower Snake River dams contribute less than 4% of the region's electricity, a power source that can be easily replaced with renewable energy sources that don't block fish migration. Moreover, these aging dams increasingly require expensive maintenance and provide diminishing economic returns.

Treaty Rights Are Not Negotiable

Perhaps most troubling is how this policy reversal violates federal treaty obligations to Pacific Northwest tribes. The 1855 treaties guaranteed tribes the right to fish "at all usual and accustomed places," a promise that becomes meaningless when fish populations are driven to near-extinction by federal infrastructure projects. Tribal nations have co-managed these fisheries for millennia and possess sophisticated traditional knowledge that complements modern conservation science.

The Nez Perce, Yakama, Umatilla, and Warm Springs tribes have spent decades advocating for dam removal not as environmental extremism, but as the fulfillment of legal commitments made by the United States government. When the administration dismisses salmon recovery as a "misguided executive action," it's effectively telling these sovereign nations that their treaty rights are expendable for short-term political gains.

Economic Myopia Ignores Long-Term Value

The administration's focus on immediate energy production overlooks the broader economic value of healthy salmon runs. Wild salmon and steelhead support a multi-billion-dollar fishing industry, from commercial harvest to recreational angling that draws tourists from around the world. These fish are also keystone species whose ocean-derived nutrients fertilize entire forest ecosystems, supporting timber industries and carbon sequestration.

The claim that dam removal would devastate agriculture ignores alternative transportation solutions and irrigation systems that don't require maintaining obsolete infrastructure. The Port of Seattle and other regional stakeholders have already identified rail and truck transport alternatives that could maintain agricultural competitiveness while allowing fish passage.

Meanwhile, the administration's promise to unleash "clean coal" and reverse environmental regulations represents a backward-looking energy strategy that ignores market realities. Renewable energy is now cheaper than coal in most markets, and major utilities are voluntarily retiring coal-fired power plants due to economic reasons. By contrast, salmon recovery represents an investment in sustainable resources that can support regional economies for generations.

The False Choice Between Environment and Economy

The administration's framing of salmon recovery as opposition to "American energy dominance" creates a false dichotomy. The most successful regional economies are those that strike a balance between resource extraction and environmental stewardship, recognizing that healthy ecosystems underpin long-term prosperity.

Consider Alaska, where the administration claims to be "unleashing" natural resource development. Alaska's salmon runs, protected by distance from major dams, support a fishing industry worth over $4 billion annually while coexisting with oil and gas development. The difference is that Alaska hasn't sacrificed its renewable biological resources for short-term industrial gains.

A Path Forward Abandoned

The Biden administration's Columbia River memorandum represented a rare moment of federal coordination, bringing together agencies that had operated in silos for decades. The document wasn't radical environmentalism—it was pragmatic governance that recognized the failure of decades of expensive mitigation efforts and the need for comprehensive solutions.

By withdrawing from this collaborative framework, the Trump administration isn't just reversing a policy; it's ensuring that salmon and steelhead will continue their slide toward extinction while taxpayers continue funding ineffective fish ladders and hatchery programs that mask but don't solve the underlying problem.

Time Is Running Out

Salmon and steelhead populations don't operate on political timelines. Every year of delay means smaller runs, reduced genetic diversity, and diminished chances for recovery. Some populations are already functionally extinct, persisting only through costly hatchery programs that produce fish ill-adapted to wild conditions.

The administration's decision to prioritize aging hydroelectric infrastructure over species recovery represents a stunning failure of long-term thinking. These dams will eventually require replacement or major renovation at enormous cost, while salmon runs lost to extinction can never be restored.

Beyond Politics: A Moral Imperative

Ultimately, the choice facing the Columbia River Basin transcends partisan politics. It's about whether we'll honor treaty commitments made to sovereign nations, whether we'll follow scientific evidence even when it's inconvenient, and whether we'll preserve irreplaceable natural heritage for future generations.

The Trump administration's reversal of the Columbia River policy may score short-term political points. Still, it abandons the region's ecological and economic future for the false promise of preserving an industrial status quo that was already failing. True leadership would acknowledge these hard truths and work toward solutions that serve both human communities and the remarkable fish that once defined the Pacific Northwest.

The fish are running out of time. So are we.