Tribal and First Nation representatives from the United States and Canada will kick-off a regional conversation about restoring fish passage to historical locations throughout the Columbia River Basin with a tour of Grand Coulee Dam today, Monday, March 17.

All fish passage has been blocked at Grand Coulee Dam (pictured above) since its completion in 1941. The tour precedes a three-day technical workshop in Spokane, Washington that will bring together interested parties to discuss technical, cultural, social, institutional and economic issues associated with restoring adult and juvenile fish passage to historical locations. The technical workshop is in preparation for the Future of Our Salmon Conference being held in Portland, Oregon on April 23-24.

Leaders and representatives with interests and roles in restoring fish passage to historical locations will take part in the tour. Co-hosts for these events include: Canadian Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries Commission; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; Cowlitz Indian Tribe; Okanagan Nation Alliance; Upper Columbia United Tribes; and Upper Snake River Tribes.

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