$3+ million directly heading to Klamath Basin for habitat restoration following dam removal
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Oregon—as well as the Klamath Basin—is receiving $35,148,287 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 said. “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.”
Crucially, 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. This funding will be distributed between two grant recipients: the Klamath River Inter-Tribal Fish and Water Commission ($2,427,664) and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board ($640,000).
Merkley—as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee—secured 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. He has also used his role on the powerful committee to secure robust funding for the protection, conservation, and restoration of salmon and steelhead species for Western states and Tribes via federal programs such as the PCSRF.
Created in 2000, the PCSRF is designed to address declining Pacific salmon and steelhead populations by supporting conservation efforts in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. The program is essential to preventing the extinction of the 28 listed salmon and steelhead species on the West Coast.
This latest PCSRF funding for Oregon was also supported by the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. A full list of the PCSRF grants heading to Oregon—as well as the Klamath Basin—can be found below:
- Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: $22,250,000
- Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission: $6,862,160
- Coquille Indian Tribe: $3,608,463
- Klamath River Inter-Tribal Fish and Water Commission: $2,427,664
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