Eel River News

California’s high court takes up appeal by environmental groups in North Coast rail case

Dec 17, 2014 | CA Supreme Court, CEQA, Eel River Canyon, NCRA

A three-year legal battle over the environmental impact of freight rail on the North Coast is headed to the state Supreme Court. The case involves two environmental groups who are pushing for more rigorous study of the effects of rail service in the ecologically...

California Supreme Court to Review North Coast Railroad Lawsuit

Dec 11, 2014 | CA Supreme Court, Californians for Alternatives to Toxins, CEQA, NCRA, Railroad

For Immediate Release Patty Clary Californians for Alternatives to Toxics (CATs) 707.834.4833 Scott Greacen Friends of the Eel River (FOER) 707.502.4555 California Supreme Court to Review North Coast Railroad Lawsuit Conflicting appellate court...

Coho Recovery Plan Addresses Marijuana-Related Impacts

Dec 5, 2014 | cannabis, Coho, EcoNews, Endangered Species, NMFS, South Fork Eel River

A long-anticipated federal recovery plan for coho salmon in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon[1] was released in its final form this September. The plan says the continuing decline of the South Fork Eel River’s population of coho must be reversed, and...

Rushing Pot Ordinance a Bad Idea

Dec 2, 2014 | cannabis, CEQA, Eel River, legalization, Mattole, policy

We could not agree more with the Times-Standard (“Get ready for legalization, or get ready to lose”) that it is high time for Humboldt to address the impacts of its marijuana industry through locally appropriate regulation. We are heartened by cannabis cultivators...

Comments to FERC re: Temporary Variance and “Make up Flows”

Oct 30, 2014 | diversion, Eel River, FERC, flows, Potter Valley Project

PG&E requested a temporary variance to reduce flows into the East Branch Russian River as they performed work on the Potter Valley Project. Sonoma County Water Agency requested, among other things, compensatory flows to "make up" for lost flows during this...

PG&E Requests Variance to Conduct Work on Powerhouse

Oct 30, 2014

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, owners of the Potter Valley Project (PVP), are beholden to regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). When PG&E needs to alter management of the project, including changes to water releases which affect stream...

California’s North Coast Water Relics

Oct 16, 2014 | Eel River, Round Valley, water diversion, water policy, Will Parrish

By: Will Parrish October 15, 2014 In roughly three weeks, the relatively slim percentage of Californians who vote in the Nov. 2014 election will decide on a politically contentious (is there any other kind of water politics in California?) $7.5 billion state general...

Would the Real NCRA Please Stand Up?

Oct 1, 2014 | CEQA, EcoNews, Eel River, High Speed Rail, NCRA

Railroad Agency Ducking Environmental Review to Avoid Disclosing Harms to River By: Scott Greacen River advocates have been encouraged, if not surprised, by the rapid return of salmon after the two Elwha River dams in Washington state’s Olympic National Park were...

Rains Ramp up Flows in the Eel River

Sep 30, 2014 | drought, Eel River, low flows

During the last month, dry patches along the Eel River began reaching lengths of hundreds of yards, but the recent rains began connecting some of these areas back together. Friends of the Eel River Executive Director Scott Greacen said that one spell of rain will not...