Wildlife

Salmon Migration and Dam Removal Welfare

Dams block salmon migration routes, causing population collapse and depriving individual fish of the ability to complete their life cycle.

Key Facts

Over 2 million dams exist in the US blocking fish passage in most major river systems
Pacific salmon must return to natal streams to spawn, often traveling hundreds of kilometers
Dam removal has restored salmon populations dramatically in rivers including the Elwha in Washington
Fish ladders provide partial passage but are ineffective for many species and dam designs
Wild salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest are at a fraction of historical levels

Welfare Considerations

Individual salmon unable to complete upstream migration because of dams cannot fulfill their biological drive to reach natal spawning grounds. Fish congregating below impassable dams experience crowding stress, predation pressure, and reproductive failure. Dam removal restores the ability of salmon to complete normal life cycles — a welfare benefit alongside the conservation gains of population recovery.

What You Can Do

Support dam removal campaigns on rivers with significant salmon populations
Advocate for fish passage requirements on all new and relicensed dams
Donate to salmon restoration organizations working on dam removal advocacy
Choose seafood from wild salmon populations with intact river access
Learn about the transformative effects of dam removal on salmon welfare and abundance