This award will provide funding to research cost effective methods of reintroducing pacific salmon and improve the accuracy and precision of the tribes life cycle model

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Reservation $1.95 million on October 1, 2025, under the Pacific Salmon Treaty Program (CFDA 11.438) to research cost-effective methods of reintroducing Pacific salmon and improve the tribe's life cycle model accuracy.

The award funds trap and haul operations to transport adult Chinook salmon to historical spawning grounds in the upper Columbia River watershed, conduct spawning and habitat surveys, and evaluate the survivability, effectiveness, and success of reintroduced salmon populations. Work is performed in Wellpinit, Washington, with a period of performance through September 30, 2028.

The Pacific Salmon Treaty Program provides financial assistance to states and treaty Indian tribes for salmon restoration and to meet U.S. international commitments and the information needs of the Pacific Salmon Commission under the treaty. The program assists in fulfilling administrative management responsibilities related to salmon recovery.

The purpose of this financial award is to implement trap and haul operations to transport adult chinook salmon to historical spawning grounds, conduct spawning and habitat surveys, and evaluate the survivability, effectiveness, and success of reintroduced salmon. Healthy and sustainable populations of pacific salmon are key to the U.S. Commercial fisheries and to the integrity of the domestic seafood supply chain. If this action is not approved, the tribe will not have adequate information or salmon to support sport, commercial and tribal fisheries within the upper columbia river watershed of washington. This financial award will go towards supporting the U.S. Seafood industry, fisheries jobs, and local communities by researching the innovative approach to increase pacific salmon abundance utilizing less expensive technology. This support will empower the tribe to effectively own, manage, and prioritize fishery management decisions for their fishery.