Endangered Species Act

Monitoring and Population Suppression of Invasive Sacramento Pikeminnow in the South Fork Eel River

by Sam Rizza Recent fisheries restoration and conservation efforts in the Eel River basin have largely focused on improving and protecting stream habitats, while less emphasis has been placed on understanding and mitigating adverse impacts of non-native aquatic species. Non-native predatory fish can limit the productivity of already diminished native fish populations, limiting their ability … Read more

A Victory for Summer Steelhead

Only a small genetic difference separates winter-run and summer-run steelhead, but that little bit of nucleic acid makes a big difference. Last month, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to list the North Coast’s summer steelhead under the California Endangered Species Act. This week, Gang Green dives into the difference between these two runs … Read more

Working today for a better tomorrow

Dear Friend, Restoring fish access to the Eel River’s headwaters by removing the Potter Valley Project dams. Protecting the rare and spectacular summer steelhead. Safeguarding public trust values. Adapting to climate change and sea level rise. At Friends of the Eel River, we are working on some huge tasks these days, and are honored to … Read more

FOER proclaims victory for Northern California summer steelhead

For immediate release: Thursday, June 17, 2021 Alicia Hamann, Executive Director, alicia(at)eelriver.org,  Scott Greacen, Conservation Director, scott(at)eelriver.org Northern California summer steelhead listed as Endangered under the California Endangered Species Act On Wednesday, June 16, the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to list summer steelhead in four North Coast watersheds — the Eel, Mad, … Read more

Take action to help us protect Northern California summer steelhead and Klamath Spring chinook!

At its June 16, 2021 meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission will decide whether to protect Klamath Spring Chinook salmon and Northern California summer steelhead under the California Endangered Species Act.  Spring Chinook and summer steelhead return to freshwater much earlier than their fall-run Chinook and winter-run steelhead counterparts. These unique life histories allow … Read more

Help Guide FERC’s New Office of Public Participation

Way back in 1978 Congress amended the Federal Power Act to include an Office of Public Participation (OPP) under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The OPP was given the mandate to coordinate assistance to members of the public intervening in FERC proceedings, as well as provide reasonable compensation for costs of intervening. However, it … Read more

Friends of the Eel River Force FERC to Comply with the Endangered Species Act 

Cape Horn Dam at high flows requiring closure of the fish ladder.

 There’s a proposal to remove the fish-blocking Scott Dam on the Eel River but looming problems still remain. Cape Horn Dam, just downstream of Scott Dam, technically allows for fish passage through its fish ladder–but that’s only when the ladder is properly functioning and the trouble is that fish often can’t use the ladder because it … Read more

FOER Supports Proposed Railbanking of NCRA’s Line from Willits North

The North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) has submitted reports to the Surface Transportation Board in support of its proposed railbanking of the Northwestern Pacific Rail line from Willits north to Eureka. This includes branches of the line in Samoa, Korblex, Carlotta, and Blue Lake. Friends of the Eel River submitted comments to the Surface Transportation … Read more

Victory for the Eel River salmon and the Endangered Species Act!

Friends of the Eel River claims a win for Eel River salmon and steelhead and the Endangered Species Act Eureka – Friends of the Eel River (FOER) has claimed an obscure but important win in our fight to reverse the harms Pacific Gas & Electric’s two Potter Valley Project dams continue to cause critically imperiled … Read more

FOER Challenges FERC for Violation of the Endangered Species Act

On Feb 26, 2021 Friends of the Eel River filed documents with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) challenging a Commission order of Jan 28, 2021 for violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) at Cape Horn Dam, a component of PG&E’s Potter Valley Project. FERC’s order approved a Winter Operations Plan for a newly installed … Read more