Each of these fish move down and through the lower Columbia River on their way to the ocean. Years later when they return from the ocean, the fish make their way into, through and up the lower Columbia River to spawn. Different species are thought to spend differing amounts of time in the lower river and estuary as at various stages of their live. Nevertheless, the lower river and estuary provides an extremely important transition zone for all of the Columbia Basin’s listed fish.
| Fish: | Listing: |
| Snake River Sockeye Salmon ESU | Endangered |
| Upper Columbia River Chinook Salmon Spring-run ESU | Endangered |
| Snake River Chinook Salmon Spring/Summer-run ESU | Threatened |
| Snake River Chinook Salmon Fall-run ESU | Threatened |
| Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon ESU | Threatened |
| Upper Willamette River Chinook Salmon ESU | Threatened |
| Columbia River Chum Salmon ESU | Threatened |
| Upper Columbia River Steelhead ESU | Endangered |
| Snake River Basin Steelhead ESU | Threatened |
| Lower Columbia River Steelhead ESU | Threatened |
| Upper Willamette River Steelhead ESU | Threatened |
| Middle Columbia River Steelhead ESU | Threatened |
| Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon ESU | Proposed |
NOAA Fisheries maintains a web page that lists the Endangered Species Act Status of West Coast Salmon and Steelhead. Visit that page for a listing for the latest updates or to view listed fish in the Puget Sound region or elsewhere along the west coast.
ESU: An Evolutionary Significant Unit, or “ESU” is a distinctive group of Pacific salmon or steelhead. NOAA Fisheries considers an ESU a “species” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).