The Snake River Basin was historically one of the greatest producers of anadromous fish in the United States. Prominent runs of Chinook salmon, Coho, Sockeye, and steelhead filled its rivers and tributaries on an annual basis for millions of years. This bountiful and life-giving abundance came to a crashing end in the 20th Century, however, due to overharvesting by commercial fisheries and the dam building frenzy that captured our nation.