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In Memory of Ed Chaney by Pat Ford Wild Salmon & Steelhead News, May 22, 2025

Ed Chaney, who inspired the start of Save Our wild Salmon Coalition in 1991-92 and led it in its early years, passed away on May 15.

Ed had spent much of his career working on salmon, steelhead, and rivers -- first as staff with the National Wildlife Federation, and then as a consultant to states, Tribes, and NGOs. In 1977, when the Snake Basin had its lowest-ever recorded flows, Ed was instrumental in enlisting Cecil Andrus, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, to push federal agencies for more water during salmon's migration period. That's when I met him.

Like many of us, Ed thought the fish provisions of the Northwest Power Act, passed by Congress in 1980, would help restore salmon and steelhead. But after a decade of much noise but little real action by the newly-created Northwest Power Council, Ed was among those who gave up on the Council, which was hopelessly split politically when it came to what salmon really needed. He cheered when Endangered Species Act petitions were filed for Columbia and Snake salmon in 1989-91. Sensing an opportunity, he pushed to create an umbrella organization, focused on the Columbia and Snake rivers, to represent sport fishers, commercial fishers, and conservation-minded people with one voice on dam operations, which could also work closely with Tribes. Ed had worked with nearly all of them, watched them fight over ever fewer fish, and realized that only together the region could possibly change the salmon/dam status quo. The Save Our wild Salmon Coalition came into being, and the new-at-the-time Bullitt Foundation (thank you, Emory Bundy!) provided seed money for its first few years.

Ed became director of the new coalition, with two staff members - myself in Boise and Tim Stearns in Seattle. It took a couple of years to sort out, scientifically and internally, what Save Our wild Salmon would do and how it would operate. Ed's great contributions were his long list of leader contacts across every salmon constituency, and his sharp focus on the Columbia and Snake rivers. He realized that a pro-salmon coalition working on all salmon matters in the entire Northwest would be spread too thin. It was a tough decision, but I think the right one.

A couple of years into the new coalition, Ed decided he was not the organization man the coalition needed to work through its tensions and mature workings. SOS was a real coalition, with real differences among its member constituencies. Ed was an inspiration, a goad, a very good writer, and the man you wanted on stage debating with utility executives and Bonneville Power Administration leaders. He was not fond of management, so he bowed out in 1993-4. He inspired the coalition to form, and to take on its powerful opponents. He couldn't take the coalition where it had to go internally, but Save Our wild Salmon Coalition would not have begun without him.

Ed was delightful and sometimes difficult to work with. He was funny, shading to mordant. He quickly spotted flaws in the arguments of friends and opponents alike. He was often inspiring, with quick wit and deep knowledge. He had a fighting style that could, at times, approach slash-and-burn.

I spoke to Ed for the last time this January. I interviewed him about Bill Platts, a great river ecologist, Ed worked with on livestock grazing. Ed's voice was weak, but he was the same synthesizer and thinker I remembered from 30 years before. He was looking forward to more hunting and fishing, which were lifelong passions.

I remember Ed for many qualities, memories, good works for salmon and rivers, and above all, the creation of Save Our wild Salmon. We haven't won yet, Ed, and there's been a reverse or two lately. But it's a long game, as you knew. I'm glad you lived to see the Klamath River restored as its four dams came down. Now, on to the lower Snake, as you would so earnestly wish us to keep on.

Ed leaves his life partner Charlotte, his two sons Eric and Mark, his brother Timothy, and Eric's two grandchildren, James and Ann.

Related Sites:
The Last Ceremony
Northwest Resource Information Center