Thursday February 26, 2026
Northwest Sportsman Magazine —
A federal judge has ordered increased spill at eight Columbia and Snake River dams to aid smolt outmigration, a “significant ruling for” salmon and steelhead and their advocates in the resumption of their long court battle with the federal government to mitigate hydropower system impacts on ESA-listed fish.
US District Court Judge Micheal Simon today granted the spring, summer, fall and winter spill portions of the preliminary injunction filed by the National Wildlife Federation, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, et al, as well as the state of Oregon, and it means young Chinook, coho, summer-runs and other salmonids have a safer way through Bonneville, The Dalles and other dams instead of going through spinning turbines.