Thursday January 29, 2026
NonStop Local —
OREGON — An appeals court has overturned a 2022 state rule that critics argued weakened protections for migratory fish such as salmon and steelhead. The rule allowed dam operators to trap and truck fish around dams instead of upgrading structures to ensure safe passage.
The decision came after challenges from two Northwest tribes, including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and several nonprofits. Umatilla Tribal Chair Kat Brigham expressed concerns about the rule change.