Colville Tribes assume full ownership of Chief Joseph Hatchery

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have officially assumed full ownership of the Chief Joseph Hatchery after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers filed a quitclaim deed, according to the Colville Tribes. The hatchery, located near the Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams, plays a key role in salmon reintroduction efforts in blocked areas of the Columbia River.

Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said the transfer strengthens tribal sovereignty and expands opportunities for tribal management and future funding. The hatchery produces more than two million juvenile Chinook salmon annually.