Hydropower

Dams Impact Fishing

Historically, this region was comprised of free-flowing rivers supporting migrating salmon, steelhead trout, bull trout, and west slope cutthroat trout that the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Spokane Tribe of Indians, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, and many other upper river Tribes relied on for subsistence, ceremonial, religious, and other cultural uses.

Completion of Grand Coulee Dam in 1941 and Chief Joseph Dam in 1955 on the Columbia River blocked migrating fish from traditional Tribal fishing sites in the watersheds of the Columbia, Pend Oreille, and Spokane Rivers. About 37 percent of all salmon and steelhead losses in the Columbia River basin are in the areas blocked by these two dams. But they are just two of many dams that create problems for Pend Oreille River salmon.

Widespread habitat degradation and loss have affected resident fish, although restoration projects are increasingly addressing these issues. For example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed a feasibility-level design for a trap and haul fish passage facility at Albeni Falls Dam just over the Idaho state line. Funding for final design and construction has not been allocated, but the project, when implemented, would restore bull trout access to 239 miles of stream habitat and 125 square miles of cold-water habitat and abundant prey in Lake Pend Oreille.