Native Fish Society is fighting to recover Oregon's most imperiled wild fish by building a groundswell of public support to advocate for effective fish passage at the 13 federally owned and operated dams in the basin. And we are holding the management agencies accountable in court, assuring that they take action now to provide relief to struggling populations and ensuring that they develop and implement a long-term plan to recover the species.

Spring Chinook Salmon (also referred to as springers) are an essential species to the rivers of the Oregon Coast. Not only are they a keystone species in the ecosystem, playing a vital role in maintaining the health of the river and its food web, but the spring Chinook Salmon run has cultural and spiritual significance for local tribes and communities, who have relied on the fish for sustenance for thousands of years.

The North Umpqua River and its wild fish are invaluable public treasures for our community and our state. For decades, these resources have been diminished by Winchester Dam, a structure whose sole purpose is to provide recreation for a few private homeowners. The dam owners, Winchester Water Control District, have failed to maintain the structure for the past 30 years. This neglect has resulted in major infrastructure problems that threaten our fish, water quality, and community safety. In 2023, attempted dam maintenance resulted in the mortality of hundreds of thousands of Pacific Lamprey, water quality violations, and blocked volitional fish passage. But there is hope. Native Fish Society is invested in our mission of restoring the North Umpqua River to its former glory, reviving wild, native fish population and returning the river to a free-flowing state, providing unimpeded access to more than 160 miles of cold water habitats for native fish.