Oregon and Klamath Basin reel in $35+ million for salmon restoration

KMTR

U.S. Senators for Oregon Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced on Wednesday thatOregon, as well as the Klamath Basin, is receiving more than $35 million from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF), a federal grant program to help restore Pacific salmon and steelhead.

Oregon’s salmon population is critical in sustaining our commercial and recreational fisheries and empowering the well-being and cultural heritage of Tribes who have been here since time immemorial,” Merkley said. “This federal funding will support the restoration of Oregon’s vibrant salmon runs by repairing and reviving their water habitat. This critical investment moves us one step closer to a healthier ecological future for the region, and I will continue fighting to protect our waterways and fish populations, including our beloved Coho salmon.

Salmon are synonymous with Oregon, and that historic connection to jobs, recreation and natural treasures deserves protecting and enhancing for generations to come,” Wyden shares. “This major federal investment in habitat restoration helps to rebuild robust salmon runs for Tribes and Oregon communities, and I’ll keep battling for similar resources to achieve that objective throughout our state.

Over $3 million in federal funds are heading directly to the Klamath Basin to support recovery and restoration efforts for salmon and ongoing Klamath Dam removal efforts. The funding will be distributed between two recipients:

• Klamath River Inter-Tribal Fish and Water Commission ($2,427,664)
• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board ($640,000)

As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Merkleysecured language in fiscal year 2024 government funding legislation directing NOAA to provide an update on recovery and restoration efforts for Coho salmon and related salmonids in the Klamath Basin, as well as an investment strategy.

Merkley also helped to securerobust funding for the protection, conservation, and restoration of salmon and steelhead species for Western states and Tribes via federal programs such as the PCSRF.

The PCSRF was created in 2000 and designed to address declining Pacific salmon and steelhead populations by supporting conservation efforts in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. The program is designed to prevent the extinction of the 28 listed salmon and steelhead species on the West Coast.