These animals are a key species in the ecology of the rivers we live near. They are also in the center of a large, ongoing debate in the Northwest about fish, fisheries, economics, land use and water quality.

The great salmon debate has many interests. Tribes, commercial fisherman, sport fisherman, salmon farmers, state, county and federal agencies, hatcheries, land developers, environmental groups, electric companies, industrial water users, farmers, forestry industry and local citizen groups.  Each has a stake in the outcome of what our society decides to do with our rivers, and thus what happens to the Salmon.