A Win for Riparian Habitat on Washington’s White Salmon River

The Conservation Fund recently protected a vital five-mile stretch of riparian habitat along Washington’s White Salmon River with the purchase of 174 acres of land above the former Condit Dam. The river is home to critical anadromous fish populations — those that migrate between freshwater and saltwater — including steelhead, Chinook, and coho salmon.

For nearly a century, the White Salmon River’s clear tumbling waters were held up by the Condit Dam, creating a 92-acre lake in the heart of the river’s run. The dam was constructed in 1912 to generate hydropower and managed for nearly 70 years by PacifiCorp. Thanks to strong local advocacy, the dam was removed in 2011 freeing 45 miles of flowing river from its headwaters at Mount Adams Wilderness Area to the confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia Rivers.

By purchasing this land from PacifiCorp, we’ve taken a critical step forward in the community-driven effort to restore and protect the watershed surrounding the former dam site. This milestone opens the door for expanded ecological restoration, while maintaining recreation access in the area.