The Lower Columbia River Chinook salmon is a threatened species. NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region, along with the Science Centers, work to protect and conserve this species under the Endangered Species Act.
ESA Listing Status: Threatened on May 24, 1999 (64 FR 14308) and June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37159); updated April 14, 2014 (79 FR 20802)
ESU Description: This evolutionarily significant unit, or ESU, includes naturally spawned Chinook salmon originating from the Columbia River and its tributaries downstream of a transitional point east of the Hood and White Salmon Rivers, and any such fish originating from the Willamette River and its tributaries below Willamette Falls. Not included in this DPS are:
This DPS does include Chinook salmon from the following artificial propagation programs:
Current Population Trends: ESA Status Reviews and 5-Year Updates for Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon
Critical Habitat: Designated September 2, 2005
Protective Regulations: Issued June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37159)
Recovery Plan: Recovery Plan for Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon, Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon, Columbia River Chum Salmon, and Lower Columbia River Steelhead (July 2013)
NOAA Fisheries delineated eight recovery domains, or geographic recovery planning areas, for the ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations on the West Coast. The Lower Columbia River Recovery Sub-domain is part of the Willamette/Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery Domain. It encompasses the estuary and all Columbia River sub-basins up to White Salmon, Washington and Hood River, Oregon, and also includes the Willamette River up to Willamette Falls (see map of recovery domains). Within the sub-domain, there are four ESA-listed salmon and steelhead species:
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region manages recovery planning and implementation for this sub-domain through its Oregon and Washington Coastal Area Office.
Working with its federal, state, tribal, and local partners, NOAA Fisheries published a Recovery Plan for Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon, Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon, Columbia River Chum Salmon, and Lower Columbia River Steelhead (July 2013).
The plan provides a road map to recover four salmon and steelhead species that spawn and rear in the lower Columbia River or its tributaries in Oregon and Washington. The Lower Columbia Recovery Plan is based on three locally developed plans, each of which covers a different portion of the species’ range:
Two additional documents prepared by NOAA Fisheries informed the development of the Lower Columbia Recovery Plan:
Salmon recovery requires action at all levels of government and by all stakeholders to be effective. Partnerships among federal, state, local, and tribal entities, together with non-governmental and private organizations, are key to restoring healthy salmon runs and ensuring the cultural, economic, and environmental benefits they provide. Implementing recovery actions is especially critical at the local level. NOAA Fisheries supports this by providing scientific and policy support, providing funding as available, and working with our partners to improve regulatory mechanisms for salmon recovery.
Key partners working to restore lower Columbia River salmon and steelhead are identified below.
If you have questions, would like to learn more about recovery efforts in your watershed, or would like to get involved directly, please contact:
West Coast Region - Oregon and Washington Coastal Area Office
Amy Kocourek
Email: Amy.Kocourek@noaa.gov
Phone: 360-753-4471
An oceanic whitetip shark swims near the surface of the water. Photo courtesy of John Carlson.
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife employee reintroduces salmon into a Central Valley river.
Aerial view of restored floodplain habitat and agricultural property near Sacramento, California.
