Western Rivers Conservancy purchased the last two privately owned properties on the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River in 1996. The Hanford Reach is last free-flowing segment of the Columbia in the United States, and supports the only remaining viable population of wild Columbia River spring chinook salmon. When 78 acres of privately owned land came on the market, Western Rivers Conservancy responded quickly to protect endangered chinook and sockeye salmon spawning grounds. The lands are now owned and managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

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