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One of Friends of the Eel River’s long-term goals, decommissioning and removal of the Eel River dams, may soon become a reality. Click here to learn more about the two Eel River dams and what we are doing to get them removed. | Friends of the Eel River’s 2017 win at the California Supreme Court helped pave the way for a new future along the old Northwestern Pacific Rail line. Thanks to Senator Mike McGuire and many others, the right of way is transitioning into a rail-to-trail project known as the Great Redwood Trail. Click here to learn about the transition and the vision for the Great Redwood Trail. | Friends of the Eel River advocates for beneficial land-use policies and effective regulations at the county-level and encourages land owners to practices watershed stewardship. Click here to access landowner resources and learn about our advocacy. |
Eel River Fish Count Station at Van Arsdale Reservoir

2022-2023 Adult Migration Season: May 8 – 14, 2023
May 14, 2023
Over the past week, 0 adult steelhead were observed migrating upstream at VAFS; the season total for migrating steelhead stands at 145 (58 female, 66 male, 21 unknown, 0 subadult).
During the same period, 113 adult Pacific lamprey were observed migrating through the VAFS via the lamprey tube passage system; the season total stands at 173.
The last Chinook salmon was observed migrating upstream on December 15, 2022. The season total for Chinook stands at 277 (91 Female, 116 Male, 36 Unknown, and 34 Jack).
Andrew Anderson
PG&E | Aquatic Biologist