Tuesday July 7, 2026
Sierra Sun Times —
Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) have decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of hatchery raised fish including Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin.
“The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries. The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region’s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike,” write the lawmakers.
BPA’s decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly $2.4 million shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County. According to ODFW, more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk. Without this funding, ODFW may be forced to close SAFE funded hatcheries and potentially cull the millions of salmon and eggs the agency will no longer be able to support.