A public opinion poll of Washington state voters says four out of five Washington state voters believe preventing extinction of wild salmon is very important. 

The Salmon-Challis National Forest is continuing to collect public input on rivers and streams it deems eligible for inclusion in the national Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The forest is accepting public comments through May 4.

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to rebuild Stoddard Pack Bridge near Middle Fork of the Salmon River's confluence in one of two locations. Please participate in our short survey to let us know which site you prefer.

A longtime resident of north Idaho's Clearwater country, Linwood Laughy has watched the decline of the basin's once-prolific B-run steelhead. He discusses watching the dramatic decline.

The Payette National Forest on February 2 released a summary of the 536 public scoping comments it collected regarding the Midas Gold Stibnite Project. A majority of comments expressed concern. A noteworthy percentage highlight serious apprehensions for environmental quality, human health, and wildlife and species conservation on the forest.

A new Idaho Rivers United program will show students they can make a difference in their local communities and for their local rivers.

IRU Conservation Associate Ava Isaacson spins some beautiful, relevant prose about why she loves a river for our periodic column: What Rivers Mean to Me.

Approximately 200 people attended a meeting at Payette Brewing in Boise to learn more about the CuMo Project and potential impacts from mine exploration and development. The meeting was hosted by local and statewide conservation groups.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon yesterday approved a plan for increased spill at eight dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The plan was developed in response to the court’s April 2017 order requiring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to spill more water through spillways (as opposed to through turbines) to boost survival of endangered salmon and steelhead.

The lower Snake River between Pasco, Wash., and Lewiston, Idaho, is first and foremost a shipping channel dammed in the 1960s and 1970s to make the water deep enough so that barges could safely navigate the canyon. The market, however, has decided against water-borne commerce on the lower Snake River. Shipping there peaked in the late 1990s and has been on a steady decline ever since. That trend continued in 2017.

Fighting for river protections can sometimes feel like an upstream paddle. It’s easy to lose sight of the long-range vision and difference we’re making while working hard for small victories along the way. For that reason and more, compiling an annual review of our year’s challenges and accomplishments offers a much-needed window for reflection and an opportunity to plan for work ahead.