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Power Council: Increased Spill Over Dams Delaying Adult Salmon by Matthew Weaver Capital Press, June 18, 2026

"So far, every olive branch we have put out has not been reciprocated."
-- Scott Simms, Public Power Council

The federal court order to increase spill over Columbia and Snake river dams delayed adult salmon passage "significantly" at two dams, according to the Public Power Council.

Citing reports from the Columbia River Basin Water Management technical management team, the council says adult salmon at Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake River and John Day Dam on the Columbia River were unable to find fish ladders to swim upstream to migrate and spawn "because of the massive amount of water coming over those dams," said Scott Simms, council.

"Due to ongoing litigation regarding this issue, we don't have a comment," said Matthew Nies, public affairs specialist for the Department of Justice.

Tom Conning, public affairs specialist for the Northwestern Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, also declined to comment.

Following the delay at Lower Monumental Dam, the federal defendants in May filed a stipulation, joined by the power council, to modify operations as needed to address fish passage issues.

Under the stipulation, a three-day emergency measure can be installed, but then operations must return to the original court-ordered spill operation, Simms said.

The council wants a "thoughtful examination" of spill operations, he said.

Returning adults represent a high-value part of the salmon life cycle, Simms noted. Juvenile salmon swim downstream to spend multiple years in the ocean, then return back upstream.

"These two events in isolation at two different dams are potentially a sign post of a larger problem," he said.

Environmental groups disagree with the power council's assessment.

"We are not seeing harmful impacts to adult upstream migration due to spill," Earthjustice attorney Amanda Goodin said. "If spill levels were blocking adult upstream migration, we would not have seen the highest fish passage numbers at John Day in early May, when spill was at its highest. Also, this year's court-ordered spill is hardly radical; it is nearly identical to spill levels in place in recent years."

"At this time, the Nez Perce Tribe will not be participating in this story. We do not have any additional information to provide regarding this matter," said Rachel Wilson, communications manager for the Nez Perce Tribe.

Next steps

August and September potentially offer "more oppressive heat" and constraints on the power system, as spill operations continue, Simms said.

The council will continue to monitor impacts on the fish, he said.

"We'll remain vigilant in the courtroom, but we'll also remain vigilant in asking these parties to take a non-litigation path and sit at the table, where we can balance out the needs for hydro and salmon together," he said.

Any movement on those discussions?

"No," Simms said. "So far, every olive branch we have put out has not been reciprocated."

Related Pages: Spring Fish Operations Begin on Snake, Columbia Rivers by Matthew Weaver, Capital Press, 4/14/26

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