Scoping Document to Assess the Feasibility,Impacts, and Benefits (FIBs) of Restoring anadromous fish Salmon to the Canadian Reaches of the Upper Columbia River

Author: M. Nelitz, M. Porter, D.R. Marmorek

The Canadian Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission (CCRIFC) was established in 1993 under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ktunaxa / Kinbasket Tribal Council, the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and the Okanagan Bands, and represents some of the First Nations communities which have territories within the Columbia River Basin in Canada1. A primary goal of […]

The Canadian Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission (CCRIFC) was established in 1993 under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ktunaxa / Kinbasket Tribal Council, the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and the Okanagan Bands, and represents some of the First Nations communities which have territories within the Columbia River Basin in Canada1. A primary goal of CCRIFC is to seek redress for the losses experienced as a result of the termination of upper Columbia salmon populations, principally through the restoration of anadromous fish salmon stocks to the Canadian Columbia River Basin.
Key objectives for CCRIFC in achieving this goal are to:
1. restore salmon stock productivity in the U.S. portion of the Columbia River Basin to allow
surplus salmon for seeding areas above Chief Joseph Dam;
2. resolve upstream / downstream passage challenges at Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dam; and
3. restore salmon productivity above various Canadian hydroprojects on the Columbia River and its tributaries.
This report represents the initial stage in developing a common understanding of the feasibility, impacts, and benefits (FIBs) associated with restoring Pacific salmon to the Canadian reaches of the upper Columbia River, and to deciding whether it is possible to proceed with this proposal.

The Canadian Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission (CCRIFC) was established in 1993 under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ktunaxa / Kinbasket Tribal Council, the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and the Okanagan Bands, and represents some of the First Nations communities which have territories within the Columbia River Basin in Canada1. A primary goal of CCRIFC is to seek redress for the losses experienced as a result of the termination of upper Columbia salmon populations, principally through the restoration of anadromous fish salmon stocks to the Canadian Columbia River Basin.
Key objectives for CCRIFC in achieving this goal are to:
1. restore salmon stock productivity in the U.S. portion of the Columbia River Basin to allow
surplus salmon for seeding areas above Chief Joseph Dam;
2. resolve upstream / downstream passage challenges at Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dam; and
3. restore salmon productivity above various Canadian hydroprojects on the Columbia River and its tributaries.
This report represents the initial stage in developing a common understanding of the feasibility, impacts, and benefits (FIBs) associated with restoring Pacific salmon to the Canadian reaches of the upper Columbia River, and to deciding whether it is possible to proceed with this proposal.