Species Status
ESA Listing Status: Threatened on August 18, 1997 (62 FR 43937) and January 5, 2006 (71 FR 833); updated April 14, 2014 (79 FR 20802)
DPS Description: This distinct population segment, or DPS, includes all naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from the Snake River basin. The DPS also includes steelhead from the following artificial propagation programs:
- Tucannon River Program
- Dworshak National Fish Hatchery Program
- East Fork Salmon River Natural Program
- Little Sheep Creek/Imnaha River Hatchery Program
- Salmon River B-run Program
- South Fork Clearwater (Clearwater Hatchery) B-run Program
Current Population Trends: Snake River Steelhead Status Reviews and Five-Year Updates
Critical Habitat: Designated September 2, 2005
Protective Regulations: Issued June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37159)
Recovery Plan: Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake River Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan (2017)
Species Recovery
NOAA Fisheries delineated eight recovery domains, or geographic recovery planning areas, for the ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations on the West Coast. The Snake River Recovery Sub-domain is one of three sub-domains comprising the Interior Columbia River Recovery Domain (see map of recovery domains). This sub-domain is home to four ESA-listed salmon and steelhead species:
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region manages recovery planning and implementation for this sub-domain through its Interior Columbia Basin Area Office.
Recovery Plan
The Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake River Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan was adopted in November 2017.
Partnerships for Recovery
Salmon and steelhead 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 and steelhead 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 and steelhead recovery.
Key partners working to restore Snake River sockeye salmon, Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon, Snake River fall Chinook salmon, and Snake River steelhead are identified below.
Federal Partners
State & Local Partners
Tribal Partners
More Information
Contact
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 - Interior Columbia Basin Area Office
Bob Ries, Snake River Basin Steelhead Recovery POC
Email: Bob.Ries@noaa.gov
Phone: 208.882.6148
The Fivemile-Bell habitat restoration project in the Siuslaw watershed in Oregon. Credit: Siuslaw Watershed Council.
Southern Resident killer whales encountered during NOAA's PODs (Pacific Orcinus Distribution Survey) in October 2021 near the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Tidal wetlands in the Nisqually River Basin, where restored habitat fosters growth of juvenile salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean.