Snake River wild steelhead and chinook populations remain below recovery goals in 2024, despite slight improvements.

Wild steelhead and spring/summer chinook populations in the Snake River remain below recovery goals in 2024, despite some positive signs. Wild steelhead returns totaled 15,327, with recruitment rates below replacement, and smolt-to-adult returns at 2.47%—still below target. Wild chinook showed improved productivity, replacing themselves for two years after years of decline, with a 2018 brood rate of 2.61. Both species remain listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and officials stress recovery is ongoing, with data gaps from pandemic-related monitoring limiting full analysis.