Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund

Pacific salmon and steelhead are much more than essential elements of a healthy Pacific Coast ecosystem; they are cultural icons woven into the fabric of local communities and economies. Salmon runs tie the region's people to the landscape, but pressures from a changing environment and human activities have compromised the strength of these runs. The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) was established by Congress in 2000 to reverse the declines of Pacific salmon and steelhead, supporting conservation efforts in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. The program is essential to preventing the extinction of the 28 listed salmon and steelhead species on the West Coast and, in many cases, has stabilized the populations and contributed to their recovery course.

Guiding Restoration Through Science & Collaboration

PCSRF has catalyzed the development of a vibrant community of salmon restoration experts and fostered indispensable partnerships among land owners, local governments, and state, tribal, and federal agencies. The collaborative nature and strong scientific foundation of PCSRF restoration efforts ensure that funds are effectively and efficiently benefits salmon populations and their habitats.

Leveraging Funds & Stimulating Local Economies

NOAA Fisheries is the agency charged with administering PCSRF's competitive grants process. Since 2000, we have awarded states and tribes a total of over $1.2 billion. The program has also leveraged over $1.4 billion in total state in-kind, and other matching, funds. These investments have significant impacts on local economies and support local job development. Recent analyses suggest that on average 17 new "green" jobs (Edwards et al. 2012) and $1.86 million (Nielsen-Pincus and Moseley 2009) in additional economic activity result for each $1 million investment of PCSRF and state matching funds.

On-the-Ground Success

With this funding and these jobs, states and tribes have undertaken over 12,100 projects, resulting in significant changes in salmon habitat conditions and availability. Since 2000, access to over 1 million acres of spawning and rearing habitat has been restored and protected for salmon, and access to 9,100 miles of previously inaccessible streams has been re-established.