Snail Darter Politics

Do you remember the snail darter? It’s a small member of the perch family whose status as endangered help to halt dam construction on Little Tennessee River in the 1970s. Despite being halted by the US Supreme Court, construction of the Tellico Dam was completed thanks to a sneaky move by congressional supporters. Often our … Read more

Increasing Toxicity of Algal Blooms Tied to Nutrient Enrichment and Climate Change

There are more than 123,000 lakes greater than 10 acres in size spread across the United States, and based on the last EPA National Lakes Assessment, at least one-third may contain toxin-producing cyanobacteria. Dams; rising temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations; droughts; and increased runoff of nutrients from urban and agricultural lands are all compounding the … Read more

Tunnel Vision Part Two: Rivers in Peril

How Jerry Brown’s plan to build two giant water tunnels, along with legislation in Congress, could ultimately spoil the last of Northern California’s wild and scenic rivers. …the big water prize in California is the major rivers on the North Coast – including the Eel, the Smith, and the Trinity – that are protected by … Read more

Tunnel Vision Part One: Delta in Peril

How Jerry Brown’s plan to build two giant water tunnels could devastate the largest estuary on the West Coast. Nearly everyone in California drinks freshwater from distant rivers or streams. The East Bay taps the Mokelumne River in the Sierra foothills; San Francisco pumps its water out of the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park; … Read more

Date Set to Breach Condit Dam Demolition to begin in October, PacifiCorp announces

This is very encouraging news since it shows what perseverence can accomplish. For our National Wild and Scenic Eel River, Nadananda Executive Director, Friends of the Eel River By Kathie Durbin Columbian Staff Reporter Tuesday, June 14, 2011 PacifiCorp will begin demolishing 98-year-old Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in late October, removing a barrier to … Read more