Wednesday January 28, 2026
Dailyfly News —
SALEM, OR – In a victory for tribes and conservation groups, an Oregon appeals court has overturned a state rule critics said weakened protections for migratory fish, like salmon and steelhead.
The 2022 rule allowed dam operators to trap and truck fish around dams instead of upgrading the structures to ensure safe passage for the fish. It was challenged by two Northwest tribes, including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and several nonprofits.
Kat Brigham, chair of the Umatilla board of trustees, said the rule was changed without their input and fish need to be able to navigate the dams to support healthy populations.