This recovery planning sub-domain consists of the Columbia River and its tributaries upstream of the confluence of the Yakima River to the base of Chief Joseph Dam. It includes six major sub-basins(Crab, Wenatchee, Entiat, Lake Chelan, Methow, Okanogan), several smaller watersheds, and the mainstem Columbia River. This sub-domain has two ESA-listed population segments: upper Columbia spring-run Chinook salmon and upper Columbia steelhead.

The Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board directs recovery planning in the Upper Columbia Basin, with funding from the Governor's Salmon Recovery Office, Upper Columbia Region. Local stakeholder assistance with recovery planning in the upper Columbia involves Douglas, Chelan and Okanogan counties, state and tribal-sponsored recovery efforts, sub-basin planning, and watershed planning.