Tri State Steelheaders
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Tri-State Steelheaders mission is to restore sustainable populations of native salmonids by enhancing habitat, providing public education, and promoting recreational angling.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $5.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $85,664, executive direc
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 78 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $4.9 million spent. RESTORATION:The Mill Creek passage projects are a multi-year, multi-phase approach to improving fish passage in the six-mile flood control channel that runs through Walla Walla. Two miles of the flood control channel is a concrete lined section, which presents especially poor conditions for returning adult steelhead, Chinook salmon, and bull trout. With the completion of 2024's projects, about 85% of the concrete channel has been treated to improve passage. MILL CREEK FISH PASSAGE - 6TH AVE EXTENSION AND 5TH AVE BRIDGE REMOVALThe 6th Ave Extension project improved 1,200 feet of concrete channel for fish passage, adjoining previous work completed in 2016. The project creates depth and velocity conditions that improve passage for adults returning to spawn, and for juveniles out-migrating in spring. The 5th Ave bridge, which occurred in the project reach, prevented continuous treatment for passage in the project reach. However, the City of Walla Walla decided to remove the aging bridge and replace it with a pedestrian bridge. In partnership with the City and Walla Walla County, both projects were completed together in 2024, with funding from the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board and matching funds from the City. MILL CREEK FISH PASSAGE DESIGN GOSE ST FINAL DESIGNIn 2020, the flood of record on Mill Creek created a new fish passage barrier at the downstream end of the Mill Creek flood control channel. The stream bed scoured down about five feet, creating a barrier to adult salmon, steelhead, and bull trout trying to enter a fishway at the site. This design project started in 2022, engaging private, public, and government stakeholders to identify alternatives, and select a preferred alternative. In 2023, the preferred alternative was selected and developed to a conceptual design level. In 2024, the designs were advanced from conceptual to preliminary, with work continuing into 2025 to complete final designs. Design work in 2024 was funded by grants from Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Bonneville Power Administration, and Washington Department of Ecology. MILL CREEK FISH PASSAGE DESIGN 3RD TO COLVILLEWork started in 2024 to design passage in the last remaining untreated reach of the concrete channel, an underground section about 1,500 feet long. Funded by Washington Department of Ecology. BRIDGE TO BRIDGE RESTORATION PHASE 3The Bridge-to-Bridge project is intended to improve in-stream habitat, riparian habitat, and floodplain function on about two miles of the lower Walla Walla River. Phase 3 design work was completed in 2023 and grant for construction funding was awarded later that year. In 2024, project permitting was completed for construction planned in 2025.BREWER WETLANDThis 23-acre site has been improved with mitigation funding for impacts to regional wetlands. Starting in 2010, three new ponds created 1.25 acres of open water. In late 2015 and early 2016, five acres at the north end of the site were enclosed with deer fencing, seeded with a native grass mix, and planted with over 5,000 trees and shrubs. In 2017, AmeriCorps volunteers planted additional trees to replace initial plantings that did not survive. In 2024, site maintenance was conducted, primarily focused on weed control.
- $118,242 spent. EDUCATION:SALMON IN SCHOOL The Salmon in School program allows students a hands-on STEM learning experience through raising and releasing salmon. For the 2023-2024 school year, the program provided 29 aquariums in area schools and afterschool programs in Walla Walla, Columbia, and Garfield counties, serving 1,700 students. Chinook salmon eggs were delivered to the classroom tanks in October. Students watched them hatch into the alevin stage and then absorb their yolk sacs to become fry. During the months that the fish were growing, our staff provided in-class lessons on fish anatomy, salmon life cycle, watershed health, and fish art. In the spring, students released their fry into Mill Creek, the Touchet River, and the Tucannon River. For the 2024-2025 school year, the program continued at 28 sites serving 1,500 students.
- $2,863 spent. RECREATION:SUPPORT OF JUMBO TROUT PROGRAMTri-State Steelheaders continued to partner with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to provide the Jumbo Trout Program. Tri-State Steelheaders purchased food used to raise about 4,000 rainbow trout. Jumbos are about 1.5 2 pounds, and are released into approximately 20 southeastern Washington lakes, including Bennington Lake in Walla Walla. This program is popular with anglers, and would be discontinued by WDFW without the financial support of the Steelheaders. KIDS FISHING DAYSTri-State Steelheaders and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers co-sponsor the annual Kids Fishing Day at Bennington Lake on the Free Fishing Weekend in June. In 2024, 92 kids registered for the event. Rods and reels were available to loan to kids who did not have gear of their own. New fishing poles and other prizes were given out in a raffle and to winners of the Casting Contest and Biggest Fish Contest. Participants also enjoyed free hot dogs and soda. The events were made possible by our partnering agencies and by many local volunteers and businesses.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1990.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
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