Episode 20: The Impossible Journey of Salmon

In this episode of H2O and Beyond, I’m joined by Ian Giancarlo, Oceans Advocate at Environment Oregon, to break down what’s really happening to salmon in the Pacific Northwest—and why dams on rivers like the Columbia and Snake are at the center of the crisis.

For thousands of years, salmon have made one of the most demanding migrations on Earth. From the Pacific Ocean, they swim hundreds—sometimes thousands—of miles upstream to the exact rivers where they were born. But today, that journey is being cut short. Some salmon runs have declined by over 90%!

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Intro

4:00 The great salmon migration

12:49 Dam effects on salmon runs

20:14 Salmon farms

21:48 Resident orcas and starvation

28:17 What would happen if we removed all dams?

33:54 Run for salmon runs

37:52 Arguments against dam removal

40:06 Closing

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Learn more about Mr. Giancarlo's work!

https://environmentamerica.org/oregon/center/updates/the-run-for-salmon-runs-crosses-the-finish-line/