Idaho Power's responsibility to protect natural resources is one of our highest priorities.

A large part of responsible environmental stewardship is our commitment to the anadromous fisheries within the waters of the Snake River and its tributaries. To that end, Idaho Power has been a pioneer in the development of hatcheries for raising spring/summer and fall chinook salmon and summer steelhead. Since the mid-1960s the hatcheries have contributed significantly to sport and Native American fisheries in Idaho’s lower Snake and Salmon rivers. The hatcheries also are a source of eggs used to develop other hatchery-based enhancement programs in Idaho and Oregon.

Our Hatcheries

• Rapid River
• Pahsimeroi
• Oxbow
• Niagara Springs

Our hatcheries are responsible for annually placing as many as 4 million juvenile spring/summer chinook, 1 million juvenile fall chinook and 1.8 million juvenile steelhead into Idaho’s streams and rivers where the fish begin their trip to the Pacific Ocean.

Our staff of more than 60 biologists, archeologists and environmental techs embrace our responsibility to this and other associated programs including:

• Development and maintenance of parks and recreation facilities near the company’s 17 dams
• Wildlife protection, mitigation and enhancement programs

All of this work is part of the federal license requirements that permit Idaho Power to operate our system of dams.

View a summary of expenses (PDF) for the most recent year that the company has incurred in meeting these and other related obligations.

Learn how in the fall Brownlee Reservoir is operated largely to benefit fall chinook below the Hells Canyon Complex. View information about our latest redd counts.