Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board

05/21/2026

We are excited to announce the 2026 Yakama Nation Willamette Falls Lamprey Celebration. The event will take place on Thursday, June 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Clackamette Park in Oregon City, OR.

We gather to honor Asum (Pacific Lamprey), one of our sacred first foods. The celebration is held near Willamette Falls—derived from our traditional Sahaptin name, Wilumpt—to honor our ancestors who have harvested at these falls since time immemorial. We also recognize the past leaders who fought to retain our harvest rights and the tribal members who continue this traditional practice today.

The celebration will include cultural dance performances; speakers from our tribal leaders and guests; a boat tour to Willamette Falls as well as a complimentary salmon & lamprey meal!

*Please scan the QR code on our flyer to RSVP for a meal ticket or visit https://yakama-lamprey-celebration-2026.eventbrite.com

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

If it feels like there are a lot of invasive species, you’re not wrong.

So how do we decide which ones need attention right now? Just like any to-do list, we use a system to prioritize species and resources available based on the following:

• Which ones cause the most damage

• Which ones are most likely to spread

• Which ones can be prevented

Then we evaluate each species based on many factors and organize them from the biggest threat to the ones we need to keep an eye on. With so many species out there, prioritizing helps agencies and partners focus their time, funding, and responses where it can make the biggest difference.

And that’s where you come in! Your reports help us spot new priorities BEFORE they move up that to-do list for all the wrong reasons. See something unusual? Snap a photo and report it: https://invasivespecies.wa.gov/report-a-sighting/

*Photos courtesy of Hannes Lemme, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, Bugwood.org (spongy moth); Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org (flowering rush); Richard Bartz (feral swine); and WDFW (European green crab)

05/21/2026

Come for the pizza, stay for the policy!

04/23/2026

Salmon need more than clean water—they need the right neighbors.

When we talk about salmon recovery in Washington, we often picture habitat restoration, streamflow, and water quality. All critical. But here’s something many people don’t realize—invasive plants can quietly and quickly undo that work.

These w**ds don’t just grow, they take over! They outcompete native plants for resources, reduce oxygen in water, and eliminate habitat for insects that salmon and other wildlife depend on.

The good news: controlling invasive species is one of the most effective ways to support salmon recovery.

It’s all connected. The next time you hear about noxious w**d control, remember it’s not just about plants, it’s about protecting salmon, waterways, and the ecosystems that define Washington.

04/16/2026

This is such a critical milestone for restoring salmon! Congratulations! Looking forward to the party.

This project marks a major milestone in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan—the transformation ofthe Bateman Island causeway. Removing the causeway will restore...

03/30/2026

Join us on April 1 for our Board of Directors meeting and site tour - no fooling!

02/06/2026

Yesterday was the 3rd annual Salmon Day of advocacy with the legislature in Olympia! Over 80 salmon advocates representing the thousands of folks working in WA to recover our threatened and endangered salmon populations converged to connect with legislators and educate/advocate for funding for salmon recovery in a tight budget year. It was an impactful day!

Our group consisted of members of lead entities, salmon recovery regions, and regional fisheries enhancement groups—see pictured 🐟

01/27/2026

Our 2026 SRFB grant round is now open! We are running three grant programs this year--regular, riparian, and targeted investments. Looking forward to seeing what projects our Basin's salmon recovery folks are cooking up!

The Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board (the Recovery Board) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2026 SRFB grant round. This year, the Recovery Board is seeking applications for three grant programs: Regular SRFB: Our flagship grant program for projects that promote recovery of salmon,...

01/16/2026

Do join us for our Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday January 21 from 2 to 4 pm; agenda and location/login info available here:

The Board of Directors of the Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board will meet from 2 to 4 pm on Wednesday, January 21st. The meeting will be at the Board's office in Yakima, with an option to join virtually using Zoom. The agenda, address and Zoom link can be found here. Please RSVP