The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 829: Who Will Save the Columbia River's Salmon?
Feb 2, 2026
Doug Hatch, Columbia River fish scientist focused on salmon monitoring and steelhead reconditioning. Donella Miller, fishery manager leading tribal-driven salmon recovery and habitat work. They discuss the Six Sovereigns restoration plan. They cover dam impacts, sea lion predation upriver, lamprey and salmon reintroduction, funding gaps, and trade-offs between hydropower and restoring runs.
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Bird Predation Is A Legal Maze
- Avian predators (gulls, cormorants, pelicans) and warm-water fish create serious juvenile and adult losses, but legal protections complicate control.
- Donella describes costly, multi-step hazing and egg-oiling processes required before lethal options are permitted.
Run Rivers More Like Rivers
- Prioritize river-run characteristics: operate dams to mimic natural flows and provide spill to flush juveniles and reduce travel time.
- Doug recommends re-prioritizing fish passage and spill over maximum optimized power schedules where possible.
Dam Removal Happens, Slowly
- Dam removal is possible but slow and costly; licensing pressures and private owner economics often drive outcomes.
- Donella cites the 19-year process for a White Salmon dam removal and compares it to Klamath's protracted history.