# Salmon habitat and population restoration in Canada

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/salmon-habitat-and-population-restoration-in-canada
> Updated: 2026-10-30T12:00:00.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

Efforts to restore salmon populations and habitats in British Columbia have focused on both ecosystem recovery and species reintroduction. In the Adams River, a collaborative project involving the Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada aims to restore natural channel complexity. This initiative seeks to rebuild spawning habitats for sockeye, chinook, and coho salmon following landscape changes caused by the 2023 Bush Creek East wildfire.

In the Upper Columbia River, the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), the tribal council of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, is monitoring sockeye salmon returns using a network of underwater acoustic monitoring stations. For six years, the ONA has conducted experiments by releasing salmon fry, smolt, and adults upriver from the Hugh Keenleyside and Brilliant dams near Castlegar to encourage returns to historic waters. 

While upstream migration remains obstructed by dams in Washington, such as the Wells, Chief Joseph, and Grand Coulee dams, the alliance continues to reintroduce sockeye salmon from the Okanagan watershed into areas including the Arrow Lakes Reservoir and Slocan Lake. The Grand Coulee dam has blocked Canadian-bound salmon since the 1930s. To combat these barriers, First Nations are employing various restoration methods, including efforts by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to transport adult Chinook around dams.

## Claims

- The Okanagan Nation Alliance uses underwater acoustic monitoring stations to track sockeye salmon in the Upper Columbia River. (reported by 3 sources)
- The ONA has been experimenting with releasing salmon fry, smolt, and adults upriver for six years. (reported by 3 sources)
- The Grand Coulee dam has blocked Canadian-bound salmon since the 1930s. (reported by 3 sources)
- The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation transport adult Chinook around the Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams via trucking. (reported by 3 sources)
- The ONA reintroduces sockeye salmon to the Arrow Lakes Reservoir and Slocan Lake. (reported by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-30: Syilx Okanagan Nation monitors sockeye salmon return to Upper Columbia

The Syilx Okanagan Nation is using acoustic monitoring to track sockeye salmon returning to the Upper Columbia River following years of reintroduction efforts and dam-related migration obstacles.

14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/syilx-okanagan-monitor-sockeye-salmon-returns-to-upper-columbia

### 2026-10-16: Adams River salmon habitat restoration project launched in British Columbia

Partners, including First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, are working to restore salmon spawning habitats in British Columbia’s Adams River following wildfire damage.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/adams-river-salmon-habitat-restoration-project-launched

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Cite as: Salmon habitat and population restoration in Canada. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/salmon-habitat-and-population-restoration-in-canada