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Cowlitz Fisheries Technical Committee

Fisheries staff scan a tagged fish at the Cowlitz Salmon fish facility.The Cowlitz Fisheries Technical Committee (FTC) was created by the settlement agreement for the Cowlitz River Hydroelectric Project. It is part of the Project’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license. The FTC makes recommendations on actions to maximize the effectiveness of fisheries mitigation, protection and enhancement measures in the Cowlitz River Project area.

What We Do

  • Develop study protocols and plans for hatchery remodeling, fish management, fisheries disease management and fish passage.
  • Make adaptive management recommendations as indicated by monitoring and evaluation.
Cowlitz River Below Mayfield Dam

Committee Membership

Voting representatives include Tacoma Power, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Ecology, Yakama Nation, and American Rivers/Trout Unlimited.
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Meeting Information

FTC meetings are open to the public and are generally held on the first Tuesday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meetings are typically hosted virtually through Microsoft Teams, with in-person meetings held quarterly when possible.
Meeting Link

2026

Previous meetings

Staff stand together and smile at the Cowlitz Fisheries Science Conference and Annual Program Review

Cowlitz Science Conference and Annual Program Review

The Cowlitz Annual Program Review and Science Conference is a hybrid, public meeting where teams shared what’s been happening over the past year to support fish and river health.

The spring 2026 presentations included updates on river conditions, fish tracking efforts, hatchery operations, and 2025 adult salmon returns, along with an Annual Program Review update and a public comment period where community members could ask questions and share input. What made this year stand out was bringing science, field work, and community voices together in one place.
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Cowlitz River below Mayfield Dam Powerhouse

Cowlitz Restoration and Recovery Program

Tacoma Power established the Cowlitz Restoration and Recovery (CRR) Fund as part of its federal license to operate the Mayfield and Mossyrock dams. The goal of the fund is to support activities that protect and promote recovery of endangered salmon species in the upper Cowlitz River basin, such as in partnership.
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FTC Final Decision Documents