Public Lands
Preserving, Growing, and Accessing Public Lands
We strive to improve and enhance access to public lands and to support new designations. Over 50% of the land in the Eel watershed is privately held. Finding safe access points to the river is a challenge for anyone wanting to exercise their public trust rights including fishing, collecting traditional medicines and food sources, and recreating.
Public lands include navigable waters below the high water mark, and as such the Great Redwood Trail is a significant opportunity to expand access to public waters. Other opportunities include remediating and conserving abandoned cannabis cultivation properties, supporting land returns to Tribes, and supporting congressional wilderness designations.
No Coal In Humboldt
The power of clean energy and the value of clean water
Great Redwood Trail
A 320-mile rail-to-trail project connecting communities from San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay
Public Lands News
Great Opportunities and Challenges for the Great Redwood Trail: EcoNews Report #234
This week on the EcoNews Report, our host Alicia Hamann from Friends of the Eel River discusses the opportunities and challenges presented by the Great Redwood Trail. The project, proposed to be the longest rail-trail in the nation, is the state’s opportunity to...
Help Protect Public Access to the Van Duzen River and Future Great Redwood Trail
Have you or someone you known been around Humboldt County since the 1970s? If so, perhaps you can help protect public access to the Van Duzen river and the future Carlotta Spur of the Great Redwood Trail. The Great Redwood Trail Friends coalition is currently...
KMUD Environment Show: Dam Removal, Groundwater, and the Great Redwood Trail
Tune into this recording from the KMUD Environment Show hosted by Tom Wheeler to hear our Executive Director Alicia Hamann discuss our most pressing initiatives at Friends of the Eel River: dam removal on the Eel River, protecting the public's interest in groundwater,...
Letter to the Great Redwood Trail Board in Support of Indigenous Communities
March 26, 2024 Dear Chair Hart and Board Members, Friends of the Eel River (FOER) and allied organizations support the Great Redwood Trail and have a deep and long- standing interest in remediating the environmental mayhem left by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. As...
No Coal In Humboldt
No Coal In Humboldt is a growing coalition of health, environmental, faith, business, and community groups across the North Coast of California that believe in the power of clean energy and the value of clean water. We oppose new coal export infrastructure that will pollute our air and water, harm our communities and worsen the impacts of climate change.
No Coal In Humboldt opposes restoration of rail on the Northwestern Pacific right-of-way through the Eel River Canyon because of the threat it poses to the rugged and magnificent river ecosystem. Restoring rail to the North Coast would inevitably lead to coal transportation because coal is the only commodity with sufficient volume to repay the multi-billion dollar cost of restoring the rail line. Major impacts to the environment and public health would inevitably ensue.
Restoring rail would also mean the end of the Great Redwood Trail, a spectacular outdoor recreation opportunity for our region. The Great Redwood Trail would be the longest rail-to-trail project in the nation, connecting San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay and offering world-class hiking and biking through the stunning Eel River Canyon.
Thus coalition members oppose both restoring rail to the region and the export of coal out of Humboldt Bay.
Great Redwood Trail
After Friends of the Eel River’s critical victory at the California Supreme Court in our challenge against the North Coast Railroad Authority, California Senator Mike McGuire introduced SB 1029, the NCRA Closure and Transition to Trails Act, which provided funding to dissolve the NCRA and begin planning for the Great Redwood Trail. Three years after SB 1029 was signed by the Governor, the California Legislature passed Senator McGuire’s SB 69, the Great Redwood Trail Act, which establishes the new Great Redwood Trail Agency and authorizes it to complete railbanking and to “plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain” the Trail.
For our part, FOER is excited about the opportunities to introduce new visitors to the spectacular and remote portions of the Eel River. We look forward to encouraging ecologically appropriate river-access, assisting with interpretation featuring the rich Indigenous history and diverse wildlife, and of course cleaning up the mess left by a century of irresponsible railroad development.
Visit greatredwoodtrail.org to learn more about the trail and sign up for notifications.
Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Northwest Pacific Railroad and the North Coast Railroad Authority
Construction began on the Northwest Pacific Railroad in 1906 and was completed in 1914. A landslide delayed the inaugural run and golden spike ceremony, an appropriate start for a rail line in such a geologically fragile location as the Eel River Canyon.
In 1989 the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) was established by the California Legislature and tasked with saving the rail line from total abandonment.
The Northwest Pacific Railroad was the first railroad to be officially closed by the Federal Railroad Authority. At the time of closure in 1998, the railroad contained more than 208 damaged areas along the 216 miles of track and was within numerous violations of the Fish and Game Code, Health and Safety Code and the Water Code, all meant to protect our Public Trust resources.
The NCRA’s efforts to manage the railroad presented a threat to fisheries recovery. The agency asserted that they could operate outside the regulations of the California Environmental Quality Act, and ultimately in 2011 Friends of the Eel River and Californian’s for Alternatives to Toxins filed joint notices of intent to sue.
History of FOER and CATs v. NCRA
2011 | Press Release: Environmental Groups Challenge Railroad’s Failure to Review Impacts July 20, 2011 |
2013 | Press Release: Court of Appeals Denies Railroad’s latest Attempt to Avoid Trial March 6, 2013Press Release: Environmental Groups File Appeals in Railroad Case July 8, 2013 |
2014 | Press Release: California Supreme Court to Review North Coast Railroad Lawsuit December 11, 2014 |
2017 | Video: FOER and CATs v. NCRA, oral arguments before the California Supreme Court May 3, 2017A Major Win: The Justices published their opiniondeclaring that California Environmental Quality Act does apply to state-owned rail projects. The NCRA responded by seeking appeal with the Supreme Court of the United States.Meanwhile, the California Transportation Commission in July asked the NCRA to “prepare a shut-down plan“, in light of their negligent use of state funds. In their annual report to the California legislature, the CTC suggests forming a legislative committee to “explore various scenarios for the Agency’s future”. July 27, 2017 |
2018 |
In January the California Transportation Commission heard testimony from representatives for the NCRA and Friends of the Eel River, as well as other stakeholders in the future of the Northwest Pacific line. Click here to watch video footage of the hearing (select January 31 2018 Pt 2). Click here to read more about the CTC hearing.
In February, State Senator Mike McGuire introduced SB 1029, The Great Redwood Trail Act. The legislation is intended to dismantle the NCRA, railbank the Northwest Pacific line, and establish a multi-use trail along the canyon in a “rails to trails” process. Friends of the Eel River remain engaged in the drafting of this legislation to ensure that cleanup of the existing rail line (including removal of toxics and removing fish passage barriers) is fully funded, and that any trail development complies with California Environmental Quality Act. Click here to read more about FOER’s vision for the Great Redwood Trail. In April, the Supreme Court of the United States denied the NCRA’s petition to review the 2017 California Supreme Court ruling. This decision means that the State Supreme Court’s ruling stands, and the NCRA remains subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. |
Railroad Article Archive
Questions and Answers about the NCRA
By former NCRA commissioner Bernie Meyers
2021
Consultant in NCRA Rail Takeover Bid Says Project Has Been Misrepresented, But Document Reveals Coal Connections and Wiyot Tribe Involvement
Lost Coast Outpost, September 28, 2021
Utah port Authority Memos Reveal Coal Industry Ties to Coal Train Specter
Salt Lake Tribune, September 25, 2021
Is Coal Industry Behind Secretive Plan to Preserve a Defunct California Railroad
Salt Lake Tribune, September 9, 2021
Aiming to Ship Coal Out of Humboldt Bay, Shadowy Corporation Makes Bid to Take Over NCRA Line
Lost Coast Outpost, September 2, 2021
2006-2018 Archives
Friends of the Eel River Cautiously Optimistic About Great Redwood Trail Act
It’s Official: Senator Mike McGuire Introduces ‘Great Redwood Trail Act’
All the Fight Has Gone Out of the North Coast Railroad Authority
North Coast Rail Agency Faulted by State Commission for Vague Financial Plan
The NCRA’s ‘Plan’: A Grifter’s Pitch for Suckers
2017
Hazardous Tankers Here to Stay
2016
SMART Prevents More Deliveries of Gas-Filled Cars to Schellville
Officials Raise Alarm Over 2.4 Million Gallons of Flammable Gas Parked in Rail Cars South of Sonoma
2015
Farm Bureaus Jump into Supreme Court High-Speed Rail Case
State Owned NCRA Asserts its Right to Ignore State Law
Rail Case Heading for State Supreme Court
2013
NCRA Directory Gives Agency a Withering Indictment on his Way Out the Door
Bernie Meyer’s Farewell Report
Highspeed Rail Agency Says Federal Law Trumps State Environmental Rules
The Disappearing Railroad Blues
North Coast Railroad Authority Goes Rogue
CEQA Key to Holding Railroad Authority Accountable
2012
North Coast Railroad Director: Lets Stop Throwing Money Down a Black Hole
Why NCRA Needs Help With Lease Negotiations
2011
North Coast Railroad Authority: ‘We Dont Have To Follow Your Laws’
2009
Toxic Cleanup Must Come Before Freight
2008
Railroad Proposals Under Scrutiny
2007
Freight Trains Raise Ruckus in Novato
2006
Contact Us
Membership forms and other printed material may be mailed to:
Friends of the Eel River
PO Box 4945
Arcata, CA 95518
Email: foer(at)eelriver.org
Phone: (707) 798-6345
Please complete the form below and someone will respond to you shortly.