Wildlife Recovery and Habitat Restoration
Our programs develop, promote, and enact science-based solutions to help wildlife and people adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Landmark Agreement to Restore Salmon Runs in Columbia River Basin
The Columbia River Basin in the Pacific Northwest was once home to the world’s largest salmon runs. Up to 16 million fish returned annually to reproduce in the Columbia River Basin before dam building in the early 1900s cut off fish migration. The Columbia Basin Commitments agreement, announced in December 2023, was signed by President Joe Biden, four Columbia Basin Tribes, as well as the states of Oregon and Washington. The agreement will help to restore Snake River salmon and steelhead runs, expand clean energy production, increase resiliency, and provide stability for communities throughout the basin. NWF led multi-decade litigation efforts to protect the salmon and steelhead runs, leading to this landmark agreement .
Photo Credit: Save Our Wild Salmon
Progress on Restoring Grizzly Bears in the North Cascade Mountains
Grizzlies are integral to a healthy forest and mountain habitat. An estimated 50,000 grizzlies once roamed the lower 48—now, there are fewer than 2,000. NWF has long advocated for action to ensure grizzlies have room to roam and can safely coexist with humans, including in the North Cascades mountain range (located in northwest Washington) where our Washington affiliate Conservation Northwest is a leading advocate for the great bear’s return. In March, the Department of Interior completed its environmental impact statement and identified a preferred plan to restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades, one of six federally designated Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones. The Department’s study and recommendations set the stage for an American conservation success story.
Photo Credit: NPS/Adams
Brandon Road Project Will Keep Invasive Carp from the Great Lakes
Invasive species are a persistent problem costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars annually. In the Great Lakes region alone, ship-borne invasive species cost an average of $138 million every year. The Brandon Road Project is designed to relieve some of this burden by reducing the spread of invasive carp. NWF worked with state and local governments and environmental groups to get the Brandon Road’s Project Partnership Agreement signed. The project funds structural changes to the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois that will prevent the upstream migration of invasive carp into the Great Lakes.
Photo Credit: Jason Lindsey