In 1986, the lower White Salmon River was designated Wild and Scenic between Gilmer Creek and Buck Creek. In 2005, the upper river between the headwaters and the boundary of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest was added to the designation. The two reaches, which are not contiguous, total, of which are "wild" and are "scenic." On the upper stretches of the White Salmon River near the Trout Lake Farming Community there are a few irrigation dams on the White Salmon River. These irrigation dams may be full/partial barriers to resident trout populations.
Recreation
The White Salmon River is used for whitewater boating nearly year-round. A popular spot to launch a raft or kayak is the public put-in at the unincorporated community of BZ Corner. The day-use area at the put-in includes parking, restrooms, and toilets. Full day whitewater tours will also take visitors rafting through the former Condit Dam/Northwestern Lake portion of the White Salmon River and to the Columbia River confluence. Guided whitewater trips can be arranged with commercial outfitters with special-use permits for the White Salmon.
On October 26, 2011, the Condit Dam on the White Salmon River was intentionally breached as part of the dam's decommissioning by PacifiCorp. Condit Dam was 125 feet in height. During the summer of 2011 Pacficorp drilled and blasted a drain tunnel at the base of the dam. The final blast dislodged the last part of the main wall of the drain tunnel and the reservoir behind it. Northwestern Reservoir drained in under an hour, revealing the muddy canyon and old timber coffer dam far below. The Summer of 2012 was spent in the actual removal of the main dam structure and timber coffer dam. The Old Condit Powerhouse still stands as a historic/visual reminder when over 14.7 MW of hydro power was once produced along the White Salmon River. The breach allowed the river to flow unimpeded for the first time in nearly a century. When Condit Dam was built in 1913 it decimated the Pacific Salmon and Steelhead Fishery on the White Salmon River. Two wooden fish ladders were constructed on Condit Dam in the early years, but were washed out with the flooding and high water on the river. Spring and Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho, Steelhead, Pacific Lamprey, and other fish species only had access to a 3.3 miles of habitat below Condit Dam. With dam removal completed in Fall 2012 the above fish species listed once again have access to 33 miles of high quality habitat on the White Salmon River. Other habitat restoration activities continue on the White Salmon River and other tributaries of this river basin. A new open bottom culvert was installed along Lakeview Road on Mill Creekin the Summer of 2016 for increased fish passage. All indication points towards increased Pacific Salmon and Steelhead runs since Condit Dam was fully removed in 2012. Finally, in Fall of 2019 PacificCorp has indicated they are actively working with the Yakama Nation for an equitable transfer of former PacificCorp project lands downstream of the former Condit Dam to Yakama Nation control. Actual lands that were once under Northwestern Lake are still being discussed with the local cabin owners and PacificCorp on how to dispose of these lands in an equitable and fair manner.
