State and federal lawmakers from Oregon are speaking out against the Bonneville Power Administration’s sudden announcement that the federal agency would cease roughly USD 2 million (EUR 1.7 million) in funding to Oregon’s Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) Program, which provides financial support to salmon hatcheries in the state.
On 1 July 2026, the Oregon Coastal Caucus, which comprises seven state legislators, sent a letter to BPA Acting Administrator and CEO Robin Furrer expressing concern for the potential loss of the hatchery’s inventory of 7 million salmon currently being raised for future release. BPA said it was ending its support “because the program has not made sufficient progress toward improving populations of salmon protected under the Endangered Species Act,” according to reporting by Oregon Public Broadcast (OPB). The SAFE Act has been in place since 1993.
"Everyone from hotels, restaurants, boat builders, and mechanics, just to name a few, benefits from the business that the sport fishing community brings into these communities while they spend time fishing for these SAFE area fish," the lawmakers wrote in their letter, published by OPB.
Additionally, members argued in the letter that fish produced in the SAFE Act hatcheries “have helped generate millions of dollars for the region’s economy while easing the strain on endangered fish by providing anglers with non-protected fish.” In the area, “the vast majority” of spring chinook and coho salmon caught by commercial fishers were produced in SAFE Act hatcheries.
“It’s frustrating. What exactly is the goal here, and what are we planning to do to support these fisheries,” Representative Cyris Javadi (D-Tillamook) said to OPB. “Because there’s going to be a whole lot of folks that are really upset if wild salmon, and other fish on the Endangered Species Act, start getting more fishing pressure on them, because there’s a lack of hatchery fish.”
Oregon’s congressional delegation also sent a letter to BPA decrying the loss of funding.
“The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations,” the federal lawmakers stated in the joint letter. “Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80 percent of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries [...] BPA’s decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly USD 2.4 million (EUR 2.1 million) shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.”
Lawmakers also expressed frustration, alongside similar critiques made by ODFW, with the short notice BPA provided, given hatchery operations are currently in progress and might now be disrupted.
“We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program,” the lawmakers said. “Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.”
BPA has not responded publicly to concerns made in letters by fisheries management departments or lawmakers. The federal lawmakers further criticize the difference of opinion BPA holds from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council that the SAFE Act is not aiding the repopulation of ESA species. The Council has long expressed support for the work done through the SAFE Act and recently recommended that BPA renew its contracts, the letter said. The lawmakers called the lack of funding support “a disappointment.”
