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357 Agency Rd,
Lapwai, ID 83540
CHERRYLANE, Idaho — In an important effort to help conserve Snake River steelhead, the Nez Perce Tribe released 39 reconditioned steelhead kelts on Thursday, November 5, 2026, returning the fish to the Snake River with another opportunity to spawn.
The release took place approximately two miles below Lower Granite Dam. The fish were transported from the Kelt Reconditioning Facility at the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery in Cherrylane and carefully released into the river. The release represents months of work by the Nez Perce Department of Fisheries Resource Management to give these fish a second chance at reproduction at a time when Snake River steelhead populations are facing significant challenges.
Giving Steelhead a Second Chance
Unlike salmon, which typically die shortly after spawning, steelhead have the ability to survive spawning and return to the ocean. Under the right conditions, they can return to freshwater and spawn again. These repeat spawners are known as kelts.
The Kelt Reconditioning Project is designed to improve the survival of these fish and provide the conditions they need to successfully spawn a second time.
Through the program, the Nez Perce Department of Fisheries Resource Management collects outmigrating steelhead kelts after they have spawned and transports them to the Kelt Reconditioning Facility. At the facility, the fish are held in carefully managed conditions and fed to help rebuild the energy reserves needed for survival and repeat spawning.
After overwintering at the hatchery, the reconditioned steelhead are prepared for release back into the Snake River, timed to coincide with the river’s main steelhead run and provide another opportunity to reproduce.
An Important Conservation Effort
The importance of the project is especially significant given the record-low steelhead returns expected during the 2026-27 season. With wild Snake Basin B-run steelhead numbers critically low, returning kelts to the spawning grounds has become an important emergency conservation measure.
The reproductive potential of these fish makes their survival particularly valuable. A reconditioned steelhead kelt can produce approximately 9,000 eggs during a repeat spawning event, compared to an average of about 6,000 eggs for a first-time spawner.
By improving the survival of kelts and giving them another opportunity to reproduce, the Tribe is working to increase the number of fish contributing to future generations of Snake River steelhead.
The release of these 39 fish is more than a return to the river. It represents the continued commitment of the Nez Perce Tribe and its fisheries staff to protecting, restoring and sustaining an important natural resource.
Previous News Release on Kelt Reconditioning:
NPT Begins Construction of Kelt Reconditioning Facility in Idaho
