The historic Columbia Basin Fish Accords establish a partnership among three federal action agencies (BPA, the Corps and Reclamation), six Northwest tribes and three states. The first Accords were signed in 2008, culminating two years of extensive negotiations that grew out of the sovereign collaboration ordered by U.S. District Court of Oregon Judge James Redden.

The Accords are designed to supplement the FCRPS BiOp and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's Fish and Wildlife Program. They provide firm commitments to hydro, habitat and hatchery actions, greater clarity about biological benefits and secure funding for 10 years.

Under these agreements, the federal agencies, tribes and states will work together as partners to provide tangible survival benefits for salmon recovery, by upgrading passage over federal dams, by restoring river and estuary habitat, and by creative use of hatcheries.