The Conservation Fund Secures Vital Land for Restoration at Decommissioned Dam Site in Washington’s Columbia Gorge

White Salmon, Wash. – The Conservation Fund has now preserved more than five miles of vital riparian habitat along the White Salmon River after purchasing 174 acres of land above the former Condit Dam from PacifiCorp. The project is part of a more than 10-year, community-driven effort to restore and protect the watershed surrounding the decommissioned dam site. This significant milestone opens the door for expanded ecological restoration opportunities and sustains current outdoor recreation access. The land is located within Yakama Nation’s ancestral territory and will be temporarily managed by The Conservation Fund before it is acquired by Yakama Nation for permanent ownership.

The Condit Dam formerly operated on the White Salmon River for nearly a century where it generated hydropower and created a 92-acre reservoir lined by more than 40 cabins. In 2011, PacifiCorp removed the dam restoring 45 miles of free-flowing river from the White Salmon’s headwaters at Mount Adams Wilderness Area to its confluence with the Columbia River. The dam’s removal made it possible for lands formerly submerged by the reservoir to reemerge, marking a first step toward restoring the native habitat.

In early 2022, The Conservation Fund, PacifiCorp, Yakama Nation, and the Cabin Owners of Northwestern Lake Association (CONLA) joined forces to develop a plan for long-term restoration and protection of the site. The effort established lot lines for individual cabin owners, conservation boundaries between cabin sites and riparian lands, and explored plans for informal trail access.

“A thank you is due to each of the dedicated partners we worked with on this project. We are excited to take a step closer to our shared vision of restoring the land and the health of the White Salmon River and its connected ecosystems,” says Gates Watson, vice president of Mountain and Northwest Regions at The Conservation Fund. “We look forward to working with Yakama Nation to reach the ultimate goal of ensuring its role as the permanent owner and steward of the land.”

Yakama Nation’s future stewardship plans include managing the five miles of connected habitat and a foot trail along the White Salmon River, in addition to reestablishing opportunities for Tribal members to exercise their treaty right to fish along the waterway. The river is home to critical anadromous fish populations – those that migrate between freshwater and saltwater – including steelhead, Chinook and coho salmon.

“The Yakama Nation applauds all the parties’ vision and diligence in securing this important riparian corridor for future generations and cementing the significant investment of Condit Dam removal in the recovery of the White Salmon River,” says Jeremy Takala, chair of Yakama Nation Tribal Council’s Fish and Wildlife Committee. “Yakamas have fished and lived along this river for millennia, stewarding the basin’s resources. Returning these riverside lands to Yakama stewardship helps restore a lost balance and brings things full circle for all its inhabitants.”

The CONLA board also expresses excitement about the benefits of conservation. 

“The Cabin Owners of Northwestern Lake Association is thrilled to collaborate with The Conservation Fund, Yakama Nation and PacifiCorp on a transaction that not only realizes our members’ dream of owning their cabin sites, but also ensures the long-term protection of the surrounding open space. The Conservation Fund’s dedication to preserving the former lakebed and adjacent forestlands in perpetuity aligns perfectly with our community’s vision for safeguarding these natural areas. We are deeply grateful for this outcome, which balances our aspirations with a shared commitment to conservation,” says Jeff James, board chairman of CONLA. 

The Conservation Fund plans to establish permanent stewardship of the property under Yakama Nation as early as 2026.   

About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund protects the land that sustains us all. We are in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for climate protection, vibrant communities and sustainable economies. We apply effective strategies, efficient financing approaches and enduring government, community and private partnerships to protect millions of acres of America’s natural land, cultural sites, recreation areas and working forests and farms. To learn more, visit www.conservationfund.org.

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