Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative

The Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI), proposed by the 'Six Sovereigns' (four Tribal Nations and the states of Oregon and Washington), outlines a long-term strategy to restore native fish populations to 'healthy and abundant levels'. The centerpiece of the proposal is the breaching of four Lower Snake River (LSR) dams, which the document asserts is the only reasonable way to ensure the recovery of Snake River stocks. To make this viable, the CBRI calls for federal investment to secure 'continuity of services'—replacing the dams' energy, transportation, irrigation, and recreation benefits—prior to breaching. The plan also includes reintroducing fish into blocked areas of the Upper Columbia, improving water quality and quantity, and implementing predator control. It emphasizes a 'whole of government' approach to funding, including the use of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Northwest Power Act, while upholding federal Treaty and trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations.

• Restoring Snake River salmon and steelhead to healthy and abundant levels requires the breaching of the four Lower Snake River (LSR) dams as a centerpiece action.
• To enable dam breaching, the federal government must first invest in replacing the services provided by the LSR dams, specifically in energy, navigation/transportation, irrigation, and recreation.
• The proposed energy replacement strategy focuses on a clean energy portfolio consisting of solar and wind generation, energy storage, energy efficiency, and demand response.
• For Upper Columbia River stocks, the primary restoration action is the reintroduction of fish into blocked areas, specifically through the Upper Columbia United Tribes’ Phase Two Implementation Plan.
• The initiative identifies a significant 'Billion Dollar Backlog' of underfunded, authorized repairs and maintenance for critical fisheries infrastructure and federal hatcheries.
• Climate change is exacerbating the decline of fish stocks through elevated air and water temperatures, increased drought, and reduced snowpack, which necessitates the use of climate-resilient habitats.
• The proposal calls for a 'whole of government' funding approach, suggesting the use of the President's budget, Congressional appropriations, and the Northwest Power Act's 4(h)(10)(c) crediting.
• The strategy emphasizes the need to honor federal Treaty and trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations by addressing past inequities in the development of the Columbia River System.
• Interim operations for the Columbia River System (CRS) must be implemented to minimize further generational decline of fish populations until the LSR dams are breached, with a target timeline of 8 to 10 years.
• Beyond salmon and steelhead, the initiative seeks to restore other native species, including Pacific lamprey, white sturgeon, bull trout, and freshwater mussels.

APA

Earthjustice (2023). Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/snake-river-litigation-cbri.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative. 2023. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/snake-river-litigation-cbri.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Earthjustice |title=Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative |date=2023 |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/snake-river-litigation-cbri.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{earthjustice2023columbia, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative}}, publisher = {Earthjustice}, year = {2023}, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/snake-river-litigation-cbri.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }