Scott Dam on the Eel River in Northern California

Declining salmon populations in rivers along the western U.S. have been exacerbated by recent droughts, habitat fragmentation, and the effects of climate change. Growing competition for limited water resources and continued habitat degradation are increasing the risks of population extinction and need for accelerated protection and habitat restoration efforts. Investments across the region will help restore Northern California watersheds that are strongholds for salmon by addressing some of the most significant threats to these once thriving fisheries - removing structural barriers, restoring access to floodplain habitat, and addressing low flow barriers caused by extended drought and climate change.