Snake River Salmon Recovery Region

Species Listed

Species Listed As Date Listed
Sockeye Endangered November 20, 1991
Spring/Summer-run Chinook Threatened April 22 , 1992
Fall-run Chinook Threatened April 22 , 1992
Steelhead Threatened August 18, 1997
Bull Trout Threatened June 10, 1998

Tucannon River, Photo by  Chris DrivdahlArea: Snake River Salmon Recovery Region is comprised of salmon-bearing streams in Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, and parts of Franklin and Whitman counties. Their "Lead Entity," Asotin County Conservation District, has established a framework for tribes, landowners, and agencies to collaborate on salmon recovery projects in that region. Many projects are to encourage alternative farm practices, thereby reducing sediment loads to streams and protecting riparian habitat. This Region includes:

  • Human Population: 213,508
  • Counties: Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla, and parts of Franklin and Whitman
  • Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs): Walla Walla (32), Lower Snake (33), and Middle Snake (35)
  • Federally Recognized Tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation and Nez Perce Tribe
Snake River Salmon Recovery Board

Origins and organization: The Snake River Salmon Recovery Board (SRSRB) is an outgrowth of the original lead entity. The Board expanded its original scope to incorporate sub-basin and watershed planning into one comprehensive recovery plan. The Board has 21 members. Representatives from Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla and Whitman counties, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are on the Lower Snake River Salmon Recovery Board. The Board is supported by a small staff and receives technical support from federal and state agencies, as well as the Nez Perce Tribe and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The Board provides a single, locally-represented authority that can focus actions at the watershed level and roll those actions up at the ESU scale in a coordinated fashion.

Recovery planning and relationship to other efforts: The Snake River Region has three 2514 watershed planning efforts. Four sub-basin plans are being developed within the region and work under the auspices of the Board. The regional board is the lead entity. Salmon recovery planning is coordinated through multiple approaches, including using the same assessment information, reviewing the lead entity project list, ensuring coordination of implementation efforts, and monitoring. The lead entity habitat protection and restoration strategy is an integral piece of the regional salmon recovery plan, as it identifies prioritized non-regulatory habitat actions across the region.

Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan
As of 1/07

Regional organization: Snake River Salmon Recovery Board
Plan timeframe: 15 years
Estimated cost: $115 million
Actions identified to implement plan:

264
Status Regional plan for WA habitat portion of ESUs/DPSs published in federal register by NMFS 03/06