Our Story
Recovery Plan Vision
Washington lower Columbia salmon, steelhead, and bull trout are recovered to healthy, harvestable levels that will sustain productive sport, commercial, and tribal fisheries through the restoration and protection of the ecosystems upon which they depend and the implementation of supportive hatchery and fishery practices.
- Lower Columbia By the Numbers
- 74 ESA-listed salmon, steelhead, and bull trout populations
- 2,200+ miles of fish-bearing streams
- 18 watersheds
- 268 miles of Columbia River shoreline
- 3 major hydroelectric developments
- 14 salmon and steelhead hatcheries
- 6 counties
- 5 State legislative districts
- Many important tribal, sport, and commercial fisheries
- Our Regional Recovery Organization
The federal Endangered Species Act requires the federal government to develop recovery plans for salmon determined to be at risk of extinction. The Washington State Legislature established the LCFRB in 1998 under RCW 77.85.200 as the Lead Entity and Regional Recovery Organization for salmon recovery for southwest Washington. As a Recovery Organization, the LCFRB developed the Lower Columbia Salmon Recovery and Fish & Wildlife Subbasin Plan (Recovery Plan) and now oversees and coordinates its implementation and adaptive management, and reports on progress in a variety of forums.
The LCFRB is one of eight regional recovery areas and seven regional organizations in Washington formed to develop recovery plans and coordinate their implementation (RCW 77.85). Recovery regions coordinate salmon recovery efforts in partnership with the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office.
The Lower Columbia region extends from the mouth of the Columbia River upstream to, and including, the Little White Salmon River.
Click here for more information on salmon recovery regions in the state.
- Our Habitat Lead Entity
RCW 77.85.200 also designates the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board as the Lead Entity for salmon recovery efforts and programs in southwest Washington. In its role as a lead entity, the LCFRB develops and maintains the regional habitat strategy, recruits organizations to develop projects to support strategy implementation, and ranks and prioritizes projects for funding through the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) grant program. The LCFRB also partners with other local, state and federal entities and Tribes to manage and implement additional grant-based programs in the Lower Columbia region.
The Lower Columbia Region’s habitat program is supported by two Lead Entities: Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board and Klickitat County.
The LCFRB is one of the 27 habitat lead entities in Washington. Lead Entities are governed by a committee of local citizens (our Board), assisted by technical experts on our Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). For more information on our Board and TAC, visit Our People.
Click here for more information on salmon habitat Lead Entities across the state.
- Annual Reporting
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2025 Annual Meeting Agendacontains links to the presentations from the meeting