PDF download links for current and past annual reports:
2024 Annual Implementation Report
2023 Annual Implementation Report
2022 Annual Implementation Report
2021 Annual Implementation Report
2020 Annual Implementation Report
2019 Annual Implementation Report
2018 Annual Implementation Report
2017 Annual Implementation Report
2016 Annual Implementation Report
Introduction
The 2024 Annual Implementation Report summarizes progress toward recovery of ESA-listed spring Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Upper Columbia region of Washington. Recovery actions are guided by the 2007 Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan, which emphasizes coordinated efforts across the “Four H’s” of salmon recovery: habitat restoration, hydropower system impacts, hatchery management, and harvest management. The report summarizes adult returns, environmental conditions, and management actions affecting salmon and steelhead populations.
Adult Returns
Spawner escapement estimates describe the number of adult salmon and steelhead returning to spawn in Upper Columbia tributaries. Estimates are based on redd counts and population models depending on available data.
In 2024, an estimated 707 natural-origin spring Chinook salmon returned to spawn. This represents the third consecutive year of declining returns and the lowest count since 2020, although still slightly higher than the lows observed between 2017 and 2020. The current 12-year average remains well below the recovery plan target of 4,500 natural-origin spawners needed for delisting. Hatchery-origin returns totaled 2,019, producing 2,721 total spawners in the region. Natural-origin returns declined in the Wenatchee and Methow basins but increased slightly in the Entiat.
Steelhead returns improved in 2024. An estimated 1,819 natural-origin steelhead returned to spawn, the highest wild return since 2016 and above the recent 12-year average. However, this number remains below the recovery target of 3,000 natural-origin spawners. Hatchery-origin steelhead totaled 2,456, bringing the regional total to 4,274 spawners. Most Upper Columbia subbasins experienced increases compared to 2023.
Figure 1. Upper Columbia spring Chinook salmon and steelhead return spawners (left axis) between 2000-2024 for natural-origin (colored bars) and hatchery-origin (gray bars) fish, and percent hatchery-origin spawners (right axis; light gray fill) by year. The black line indicates the 12-year geometric mean of natural-origin spawners, and the dashed line is the abundance delisting target for natural-origin fish. Note the difference in axes among plots and a break in the y-axis for Methow Chinook and steelhead and Okanogan steelhead. Source: WDFW 2024 SPI data, Hillman et al. 2025, Snow et al 2025
Habitat Conditions in 2024
Snowpack and Streamflow
Environmental conditions in 2024 were generally challenging for spring Chinook and steelhead. Winter conditions were warmer than average with below-average precipitation and snowpack approximately 28% below normal. Peak snowpack occurred earlier than average, contributing to reduced spring runoff.
Streamflow across the Upper Columbia was about 36% below normal at peak flow, with overall annual flows approximately 24% below average. Low summer flows were widespread, and August flows averaged 37% below normal. Warmer air temperatures contributed to higher stream temperatures at most monitoring sites, with several locations exceeding temperatures considered stressful or lethal for salmonids
Upper Columbia peak flows averaged 36% below normal.
Columbia River summer water temperatures peaked at 2.0°F above average below Rocky Reach Dam.
Figure 2. Map of the four major Upper Columbia River subbasins showing the location of SNOTEL sites where snow-water equivalent is assessed (circles) and USGS stream gages where flow is measured (triangles). The color ramp indicates the percent difference from annual average for each of the two measurements. Source: USGS, 2025; NRCS, 2024.
Wildfire
Wildfire is a major driver of aquatic habitat in the Upper Columbia and has the potential to both degrade habitat through large amounts of fine sediment and loss of riparian shading, or to improve habitat by increased streamflow and large wood additions from downed trees. The 2024 wildfire season was relatively mild, and most fires did not significantly affect salmon-bearing floodplains or habitat.
Ocean Conditions
Ocean conditions for salmon were relatively poor in 2024 compared to recent years. Reduced ocean productivity and warmer waters limited food availability for juvenile salmon during their first year at sea. Ocean conditions strongly influence future adult returns, and recent variability may contribute to fluctuations in salmon and steelhead abundance.
See more information on habitat in the UCSRB Habitat Background Summary.
Figure 3. Ocean ecosystem indicators of the Northern California Current from 1998 – 2024. Colored squares indicate either positive (green), neutral (yellow), or negative (red) conditions for salmonids entering the ocean.
Harvest
Harvest of salmon and steelhead in tributaries to the Columbia River is managed by the state of Washington and tribal fishery managers to limit impacts on ESA-listed species. In 2024, recreational fisheries occurred for non-listed species such as sockeye and hatchery salmon, while wild Chinook and steelhead were largely protected through mandatory release requirements. In 2024, an estimated 1,609 wild spring Chinook entered the Columbia River destined for the Upper Columbia, along with an additional 16,615 hatchery fish, including fish from the Chief Joseph hatchery. The estimated number of wild fish taken by non-treaty wild harvest was 12 (0.7% of the wild run) and treaty harvest through ceremonial and subsistence (C&S) fisheries accounted for 97 fish (6.0% of the run).
See more information on harvest in the UCSRB Harvest Background Summary.
Hydrosystem Survival
Salmon and steelhead from Upper Columbia populations migrate through the Columbia River hydrosystem during their emigration to the ocean as juveniles and again as adults returning to their stream of origin. Survival during migration may be influenced by environmental conditions and operations associated with the dams and reservoirs encountered prior to ocean entry and upon return up the Columbia River. Below-average river flows in 2024 reduced spill and increased migration travel times for juvenile fish. Downstream survival estimates for hatchery Chinook from release sites to Bonneville Dam were 38%, one of the lowest values since ESA listing. Hatchery steelhead survival declined even further to 14%, the lowest recorded since listing.
See more information on hydropower in the UCSRB Hydropower Background Summary.
Hatcheries
Upper Columbia hatchery programs released approximately 3.4 million spring Chinook and 759,000 steelhead in 2024 to support conservation, harvest, and reintroduction objectives. Hatchery fish contribute substantially to total returns but also influence the genetic composition of natural populations. Metrics such as the proportion of hatchery fish spawning in the wild and the proportionate natural influence (PNI) are used to evaluate genetic risk. While some populations show improvement, many remain below recommended thresholds where natural selection dominates population adaptation.
See more information on hatcheries in the UCSRB Hatchery Background Summary.
Habitat
Habitat restoration and protection projects in the Upper Columbia are tracked in the Salmon Recovery Portal database, administered by the State of Washington Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office (GSRO). All habitat projects that could benefit salmon, steelhead, and bull trout, regardless of funder or sponsor, are tracked through this database. This information is used to track our progress toward implementing habitat goals in the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan (Recovery Plan) and the Upper Columbia Biological Strategy.
2024 Habitat Accomplishments
of stream opened
completed
placed in channel
relocated
of stream treated
acquired for protection or restoration
In 2024, partners completed 37 projects across all four major subbasins (Figure 4), with nine projects implemented in the Methow, 17 in the Wenatchee, four in the Entiat, six in the Okanogan, and one project that was a combination of the Wenatchee and Entiat subbasins. In comparison, the number of projects completed in 2023 was 47. Of the completed 2024 projects, 25 were restoration, seven were design/planning, two were assessments, and three were protection, or acquisition. Of the 37 completed projects, five were primarily funded by the BPA Upper Columbia Programmatic, which are reported annually to the Bonneville Power Administration. In addition, there were two projects completed in the Moses Coulee watershed. These projects were included in the completed projects table (Attachment 1) but were not included in any of the calculations presented in this report.
Since 1998, there have been 764 projects completed in the region, most of which (57%) were implemented within the last 12 years. The total projects completed in 2024 is similar to the 10-year average of 33 projects per year. Over the past five years, an average of 36 projects have been completed annually. As noted in previous annual reports, the scope and scale of current projects is significant based on the cost of recently completed projects. In 2024, the combined cost of all 37 projects totaled about $13.8 million (Figure 5), with four projects each costing $1 million or more. The average funding per project was approximately $370,000. A complete list of projects completed in 2024 is provided in Attachment 1.
Projects Completed in 2024
Figure 4. Map of the Upper Columbia region showing the location and type of projects completed in 2024 within each of the four major subbasins.
Of the 28 total restoration and protection projects in 2024, most targeted a combination of ESA-listed fish species, with seven primarily focused on spring Chinook and steelhead, and another eight focused on spring Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout. Steelhead alone was listed as the primary species of interest in an additional nine projects. One project, in Upper Bonaparte Creek, was primarily focused on rainbow trout. Of the projects that benefited steelhead, the majority (15 of 25) were completed in a high priority assessment unit, with an additional ten completed in a medium priority area. Similarly, of the 16 projects benefiting spring Chinook, ten were completed in a high, five in a medium, and one in a low priority assessment unit. While bull trout were a primary species of interest in only eight projects, most of these were completed in a high priority assessment unit as well.
See more information on habitat in the UCSRB Habitat Background Summary
Total Number of Projects and Money Spent By Year
Figure 5. Total number of habitat projects completed (blue bars; left axis) and money spent in millions (orange line; right axis) annually from 1998 through 2024.
Featured Projects
Completed Highway 97 crossing at Johnson Creek. The undersized culvert and upstream trash barrier were replaced with a large box culvert.
Partners completed five projects in the Okanogan subbasin in 2024 (Attachment 1).
Johnson Creek Fish Passage (19-1595)
Sponsor: Trout Unlimited – WA Water Project
Location: Johnson Creek AU
Funding: Total project cost: $1,524,908; $1,294,908 from Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board, and $230,000 from Wells Habitat Conservation Plan Tributary Committee
Outcomes: 1 fish passage blockage removed; 1.01 miles of stream made accessible
Trout Unlimited (TU) completed a fish passage improvement project at the Johnson Creek-Highway 97 crossing in Okanogan County. The project replaced an undersized culvert and removed a trash rack at the highway crossing that had created a passage barrier for both resident and anadromous fishes. With this barrier corrected, steelhead and resident trout now have unimpeded access to approximately one mile of high-quality upstream spawning and rearing habitat. The Johnson Creek Assessment Unit is ranked as a high priority for both steelhead adult migration and spawning, making this a very important location for restoration work.
Entiat Falls
Partners completed four projects in the Entiat subbasin in 2024 (Attachment 1).
Entiat and Mad River Comprehensive Thermal IR Survey (SRP-22-92469)
Sponsor: Cascadia Conservation District
Location: Entiat and Mad Rivers
Funding: Total project cost: $205,000; US Bureau of Reclamation funding
Outcomes: Thermal infrared mapping of 66 miles on the Entiat and Mad Rivers, 36 significant thermal features identified
The Entiat and Mad River Comprehensive Thermal Infrared Survey was an assessment project completed by the Cascadia Conservation District in 2024 on the Entiat and Mad Rivers. The project produced detailed thermal mapping across 66 miles of river, identifying 36 significant thermal features. Because temperature is a primary limiting factor in the Entiat subbasin, this information will enable future project implementers to better plan around, preserve, and enhance the critical cold-water features present throughout the watershed.
This project utilized a helicopter-mounted FLIR SC6000 system to collect high-resolution surface water temperature data across the full extent of the surveyed reaches. In addition to the thermal mosaic, the imagery provides detailed visual information that allows implementers to assess riparian conditions, large wood presence, and overall habitat quality. Overall, this climate-forward project delivers critical data that will be widely used by sponsors throughout the Entiat subbasin to protect and enhance cold-water features for the benefit of ESA-listed, cold-water species.
Existing roughened channel
Partners completed nine projects in the Methow subbasin in 2024 (Attachment 1).
Upper Beaver Creek Final Design and Restoration (20-1450)
Sponsor: Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation
Location: Lower Beaver Creek 07
Funding: Total project cost: $469,088.12; $398,718.80 from Salmon Recovery Funding Board, $46,912.96 Wells Tributary Committee, $7,654.68 Department of Ecology, $8,352.05 Bureau of Reclamation, $7,500 MSRF
Outcomes: 1 fish passage barrier removed; 0.41 miles of stream treated for channel reconfiguration and connectivity; 1.5 acres of wetland restored; 0.35 miles of stream made accessible
Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation implemented an instream and fish passage restoration project in Beaver Creek, a tributary to the Methow River, benefiting both spring Chinook and steelhead. Beaver Creek is ranked as a level 2 Assessment Unit and is considered a medium- to high-priority reach for multiple life stages, including summer rearing, adult migration, and fry colonization.
The project replaced an undersized culvert, restoring fish passage to a 1.5-acre wetland habitat on the east side of the project site. This wetland area is particularly important for juvenile steelhead, providing critical refuge and rearing habitat. Additional passage improvements were achieved by reconstructing existing irrigation diversions using a roughened channel design. Together, these actions restore access to more than 17 miles of upstream habitat in Beaver Creek, including a significant restoration project completed by the Yakama Nation in 2019.
Floodplain connectivity was further enhanced through floodplain grading and habitat structure placements throughout the site. Overall, this project increased flood capacity and floodplain connectivity, improving channel resilience to high flows and sediment transport under changing flow conditions.
New side channel, adding 0.43 miles of off-channel habitat
Partners completed 17 projects in the Wenatchee subbasin in 2024 (Attachment 1).
Merritt Oxbow Reconnection (20-1447)
Sponsor: Cascade Fisheries
Location: Lower Nason Creek 10
Funding: Total project cost: $1,088,739.13; $711,236 from BPA Upper Columbia Programmatic, and $376,977.31 from Salmon Recovery Funding Board
Outcomes: 0.28 miles of instream habitat treated, 9 pools created, 1.1 acres of riparian area treated
Cascade Fisheries completed the Merritt Oxbow Reconnection restoration project at river mile 10.8-11 on Nason Creek, which is in the Lower Nason Creek Assessment Unit of the Wenatchee River subbasin. This Assessment Unit is ranked Tier 1 for spring Chinook and steelhead restoration. The project included the excavation of a new side channel that created a connection between the oxbows and mainstem channel. Constructed riffles were placed in the side channel and the mainstem channel to improve side channel longevity and provide fish passage at all flow ranges. Instream complexity and floodplain connection was enhanced at the site through large woody debris installations. Finally, just over one acre of riparian vegetation was restored with native vegetation. Collectively, these actions will address multiple rank 1 limiting factors in the reach, including side channel and floodplain connectivity, bank stability, riparian cover, and temperature. Additionally, this project will benefit multiple life stages of listed spring Chinook, steelhead, and bull trout, as well as non-listed species such as lamprey.
Attachment 1
Table of Information for Projects Completed in 2024
Upper Columbia projects completed in 2024. Source: Salmon Recovery Portal database (January 2026). Projects are shaded by subbasin. CCD = Cascadia Conservation District; CCNRD= Chelan Country Natural Resources Department; CF= Cascade Fisheries; CTCR = Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation; MSRF= Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation; OCD= Okanogan Conservation District; TU = Trout Unlimited; WDFW = Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife; YN = Yakama Nation.
Citations
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