Salmon and steelhead returns to the Columbia River this year have been mixed, but still are expected to be generally higher than they were in 2021. Upriver spring Chinook, summer Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon, shad and summer steelhead returns are all higher this year, according to two Columbia River Compact staff reports released this year. The exception is fall Chinook salmon, which is forecasted to have a similar run as last year’s dismal 66 percent of the 10-year average.
