Columbia Snake River Campaign Applauds Court’s Action to Move Forward With Litigation Proceedings

The Columbia Snake River Campaign commends the U.S. District Court’s decision to deny the federal government’s motion to further delay proceedings in the long-running Columbia Basin salmon litigation, clearing the way for Tribes, States, and advocates to seek emergency measures that could mitigate extinction risk for some of the region’s most imperiled fish.

The Court’s order, issued October 14, came before yesterday’s filing by plaintiffs seeking a preliminary injunction to require immediate changes in federal dam operations to protect endangered salmon and steelhead. The new schedule sets an expedited path for review, with potential court-ordered actions that could take effect ahead of the 2026 juvenile salmon migration season. This legal action comes in direct response to the Trump Administration’s unilateral termination of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement (RCBA) earlier this year, a move that dismantled a historic framework for collaboration among Tribal Nations, states, and federal agencies to recover salmon, restore ecosystems, and modernize the region’s energy system.

“Tribal Nations have led this strong effort for decades,” Scott added. “We are grateful that the Court recognizes the need to move forward in finding solutions for salmon and everything that relies on their health and abundance, including the Southern Resident orcas. The need to act becomes more and more urgent with every delay and obstacle that stands between the recovery of these critical life sources.”

The motion for preliminary injunction, filed yesterday by plaintiffs, seeks emergency operational changes to the federal dam system to improve fish passage and survival. The filing calls for measures such as increased spill and the removal of barriers that block salmon migration, critical steps to prevent further decline of endangered salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

The Columbia Snake River Campaign continues to stand with Tribal Nations, states, and partners in supporting the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative and commitments made to honor Tribal sovereignty, restore salmon runs, and build a just energy future for the Pacific Northwest.