Forest & River News treeS FOUnDAtiOn SUMMer 2017 grASSrOOtS COnServAtiOn & reStOrAtiOn in the reDwOOD regiOn

Protecting Forests, Rivers, and Wildlife... Community Involvement Needed Now More Than Ever!

nOt On OUr wAtCh: PrOteCting nOrthern nAtiOnAL FOreStS AnD wiLD riverS in the erA OF trUMP

A ChAnge OF heArt— revOLUtiOnArY eCOLOgY in A wOrLD OF CLiMAte ChAnge CreAting A COMMUnitY FOreSt in the heADwAterS OF the MAttOLe river

FiSh POPULAtiOnS ShOwing SignS OF reSiLienCe DeSPite StAte-wiDe trenDS Index Forests & All Creatures Not on Our Watch: Protecting Northern California National Forests and Wild Rivers in the Era of Trump ...... 3 KS Wild Editor’s Note A Change of Heart—Revolutionary Ecology in a World of Climate Change...... 6 During the last six months under the new Trump Environmental Protection Information Center administration, many of us have been appalled Creating a Community Forest in the Headwaters of the Mattole River ...... 12 by the rolling back of important environmental Mattole River and Range Partnership laws and regulations—all of which were put in place to protect the public’s right to clean water, Richardson Grove Redux: Trucks vs. Redwoods Round 2 ...... 23 Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters public lands, healthy forests, and more. This administration’s overt prioritization of domestic Legacy of Education, Sanctuary Forest Inc...... 30 Sanctuary Forest fossil fuel interests is a threat to not only the welfare of the people of the United States, but to Water, Rivers, & Fish the people of the world, as highlighted by Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord. Eel River Fish Populations Showing Signs of Resilience Despite State-Wide Trends ...... 8 In this issue of Forest & River News, you Eel River Recovery Project will read how individuals, communities, and Eel River Recovery Project Wilderness Committee ...... 24 conservation groups here in Northern California Eel River Recovery Project are responding and refusing to let what visionary Annual Yellow-Legged Frog Egg Count at Benbow Indicates environmental and labor rights activist Judi Bari Successful Mitigation for Benbow Dam Removal ...... 25 called our “broken” political system get in the Eel River Recovery Project way of continuing to do their work. SPAWN Restoration at Former Cement Plant a Success ...... 27 Salmon Protection And Watershed Network Organizations like the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild) and the A Framework for Improving Water Security for Landowners and Streamfl ows for Salmon ...... 29 Environmental Protection Information Center Salmonid Restoration Federation (EPIC) write about their commitment to continue monitoring our public lands and Fire forests, to continue advocating for the best Burning the Late B loomers ...... 15 possible environmental laws, and to hold Lenya Quinn-Davidson agencies and the government accountable by educating and engaging the public in the process. From My Perspective Local leaders of the organization Sanctuary Diggin’ In...Th e Gienger Report ...... 18 Richard Gienger, Restoration Leadership Project Forest write about working to protect thousands of acres of forest land from being cut, including Announcements vital headwaters to the salmon-bearing Mattole Free Field Courses Engage Local Residents with Natural World...... 26 River, by purchasing it through their visionary Mattole Restoration Council Fund-An-Acre program—which not only gets th community members to help buy the land from 20 Annual Coho Confab in the Mattole, August 24-26, 2017 ...... 28 Salmonid Restoration Federation the timber company, but also works to create the Van Arken Community Forest to be enjoyed and held in trust for all. When given lemons, make lemonade—that’s what these individuals, groups, and communities are doing. Hopefully we will all be inspired to roll up our sleeves, get involved, and help!

Cover photo: The view toward Mt. Shasta from the newly expanded Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, now under “review” by President Trump. Site of the old Benbow Dam with just the abutment on the right remaining, May 13th, 2017. p h o t o by J o e l b r u m m , blm photo by pat hiGGinS, errp NOT ON OUR WATCH: Protecting Northern California National Forests and Wild Rivers in the Era of Trump

By KS Wild Just to the east of the California’s North Coast, right behind the redwood curtain, is a region rich in wild rivers and diverse forests. The Klamath-Siskiyou region, known for its world-class biological diversity, has, for example, more conifer species than any region on earth. It is home to elusive fishers and, once again, wolves.

The main reason this region remains so wild is that it is primarily public lands, owned by all Americans, but managed by federal agencies, principally the U.S. Forest Service. Although the Trump The view toward Mt. Shasta from the newly expanded Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, now under “review” by President Trump. p h o t o by J o e l B r u m m , BLM administration has been historically slow in taking over the reins of agencies like Sue and Settle key addition in Northern California and is the Forest Service, we are already seeing One possible avenue for harming our on the review list. The beautiful Cascade- the outline of a Trump public lands policy, natural legacy is the potential return Siskiyou is the only national monument and it isn’t pretty. of the “sue and settle” strategies of the ever designated principally to protect While the full details of Trump’s Bush administration. The timber and biodiversity. The monument stands at the environmental policies aren’t entirely mining industries have the money, the intersection of the biodiverse Siskiyou clear, we have enough information desire, and a long track record of turning Mountains, the volcanic Cascades, and to conclude that wildlife, forests, and to the courts to roll back public lands the sage and juniper of the Great Basin. It the people who enjoy public lands protections. The Trump administration is a critical wildlife connectivity link in the will all suffer. Many of the relevant may simply choose not to defend our face of climate change and other threats to appointees in this administration have forests, waters, and wildlife from industry wild places. It is no surprise that this is the backgrounds in extractive industries, lawsuits. Such lawsuits threaten to place the world-famous wandering wolf such as oil and gas. The administration’s create policies without public comment OR-7 chose to make its first entry into California, the first for a wolf in almost budget proposes massive cuts to land rulemaking or Congress. Public lands watchdog groups may need to take a a century. Other California National management agencies, which are already more aggressive approach to litigation Monuments are on the list, including short staffed. New vacancies for agency and intervention in industry lawsuits in Snow Mountain Berryessa and San staff, especially those that advocate for an attempt to ensure a seat at the table in Gabriel. You have until July 10th to send sound science, likely won’t be filled. The settlement negotiations between industry a comment letter calling for protection U.S. Congress is also ripe for passing laws groups and the Trump administration. of all national monuments by going to that would weaken the safeguards for www.defendcascadesiskiyou.org. our public lands, fish and wildlife, and National Monuments the recreation opportunities and natural Just last month, the Administration took Timber services like clean water provided by the unprecedented action of beginning Given that the Klamath National Forest these landscapes. Here are some of the a “review” of 27 National Monuments. is one of the biggest timber producers of possible impacts of a Trump presidency The recently expanded Cascade-Siskiyou any in California, forest watchdog and on our public lands and waters in the National Monument on the Oregon- organizing efforts are focused there. Not wild Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains. California border near I-5 now includes a all timber sales are the same. Over the next www.treesfoundation.org Page 3 ranges. Conservation groups and local communities secured a 20-year moratorium on strip mining across 100,000 acres of watersheds in and around Oregon’s North Fork Smith River, which flows into California’s crown jewel, the crystal clear Smith River. Groups also pushed back against the High Bar mine along the Salmon River, which ultimately led to its abandonment. Unfortunately, developers continue to push toxic mines in our watersheds. Mining interests are advocating for developing a football-field size gold mine next to the Wild and Scenic North Fork Salmon River, near Sawyer’s Bar. Given the inclination under this new Salvage logging, like here on the Westside timber sale, is an ecological disaster administration to support mining under and a taxpayer rip-off. We can’t let it happen at Horse Creek. p h o t o by J o e F l a h e r t y the 1872 Mining Law, the U.S. Forest Service will likely give the developers year, the agency will plan some timber detrimental, and the logging would harm every chance at succeeding in this and sales that will be close to communities an area long used by the Karuk Tribe other upcoming mining projects. and at least attempt to reduce fire for sourcing traditional fibers. We are Grazing threats to homes and structures. The bringing as much public pressure to bear Western Klamath Restoration Project as possible before a scheduled decision on There have been decades of grazing cattle is a collaborative effort between tribal this sale in late summer 2017. on public lands in the Klamath- governments, local restoration groups, Siskiyou, but recently there have been Mining and the U.S. Forest Service. This is a great some effective efforts at addressing the example of what should be the focus of Mining has taken a toll on the salmon impacts on native plant communities, the U.S. Forest Service moving forward. and watersheds in the Klamath-Siskiyou streams, lakes, and meadows. Especially for decades. But recently, there have impaired are sensitive high-elevation Unfortunately, the Klamath National been several key successes in stopping meadows, home to many rare plants. Forest is currently proposing backcountry industrial mining in these wild mountain Cattle also congregate in streamside “salvage” logging of wild forests in the Horse Creek project, about 40 miles east of Happy Camp. This area was burned by an arsonist in the Gap Fire of 2016. The government has proposed logging units miles from any homes and right up against the Pacific Crest Trail under the guise of “community protection.” These proposed actions would have significant impacts on the Siskiyou Crest, a wild, high-elevation ridge system also critical for wildlife connectivity. Both conservationists and Tribes are concerned with the decrease of wildlife connectivity from clearcutting large swaths of intact forests. The The view from the Siskiyou Crest looking across the Klamath National Forest. We need impacts to wildlife and salmon would be to protect our public lands from the Trump agenda. p h o t o by M a r t h a M c C o r d

Page 4 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 areas and in other water sources, often churning the soil, causing erosion, and impairing aquatic habitats, including habitat for at-risk salmon species. The mosaic of habitats found in this region, where expansive forests are broken up with natural openings, leads droves of opportunistic cattle to find grassy forage in the occasional open meadow. Because of their unique soils, these high meadows are home to rare plants, but chronic grazing for years has altered these plant communities and put already rare plants at risk of extinction. The Klamath National Forest is currently proposing to reopen the rested Middle Tompkins Allotment, which falls within The upper reaches of the Smith River are safe the Scott River Basin. This would have a again after a 20-year significant impact on salmon-bearing moratorium on mining streams there. The Forest Service is across 100,000 acres. p h o t o by G eo rg e S e x t o n advocating for a position that is worse than the status quo and is expected to issue its decision in summer 2017. change, while still holding fast on his Northern California’s Klamath-Siskiyou ridiculous claim that it is a Chinese hoax. region is one of the most outstanding Privatization Nonetheless, climate change remains the regions on earth for at-risk wildlife and In other areas of government, Trump greatest long-term threat to forests, rivers, ancient forests. Well-connected resource has shown a willingness to listen to the and wildlife in our region. Solutions extraction industries want to roll back most extreme elements of the right. The aren’t easy, but there is much we can do protections for forests and rivers under prospects for public lands are terrifying. locally to help. The threat of rising river Trump. With your help, we can safeguard The Koch Brothers-fueled right-wing temperatures is answered by retaining all nature in this biodiversity hotspot. plans don’t just stop with lifting trees for shade in riparian zones. Climate KS Wild and our allies will monitor every protections for forests, rivers, and wildlife. threats to wildlife demand landscape project on public lands in our region, Their clearly-stated end goal is to sell off level protections so that species can supporting actions that protect and our public lands to the highest bidder. migrate upslope and across greater restore forests, and working to improve or The result would be a total destruction distances. In other words, the best way challenge projects that harm the natural of the Northern California way of life. to protect the Klamath-Siskiyou and world. We work closely with groups in To prevent such an outcome from ever the species that will be impacted from Washington D.C. to influence public gaining traction, we must constantly climate change is to protect our forests, lands policies. We ensure that endangered remind ourselves and our communities of rivers, and wild nature. the value of public lands that we so often species protections that undergird land take for granted. Unlike folks in many At this time, the Trump administration uses continue to protect key habitats. countries, and even unlike folks back poses a greater threat to the Klamath- We’ve seen similar threats before and have East, our best places are not closed with Siskiyou than anything we’ve seen in come out ok. We’ve faced down Clinton’s No Trespassing signs, but open for our recent history. Groups that work on public Salvage Rider and Bush’s Healthy Forest enjoyment. We have to keep it that way. lands defense and National Forest policies Initiative. It is going to take a ton of work have our work cut out for us. To ensure the and even greater levels of public support, Climate Change use of the best available science, watchdog but we will beat Trump too. Trump has already given the extreme groups like KS Wild, EPIC, and others right exactly what they want on climate will be critical. The 11 million acres in a For more information: www.kswild.org www.treesfoundation.org Page 5 A Change of Heart —Revolutionary Ecology in a World of Climate Change

By Rob DiPerna, of human history and its relations to the EPIC feminine, the native, and the natural. In “Th e earth is not dying, it is being killed, her treatise, Revolutionary Ecology, Judi and the people responsible have names wrote about some of the root causes and addresses.” of our human sickness: the belief that ~ U. Utah Phillips humans are separate from nature and that Combating global climate change and nature exists to serve humans is the core destabilization—this is the greatest underpinning to the justification of our challenge of our time, perhaps the greatest modern-day industrial capitalist societies challenge in human history. Global and the concept of private property. Th e climate change and destabilization also idea that humans can own, control, bring home the fundamental conflicts manipulate, and dominate the earth and between our industrial capitalist way its natural processes for individual gain of life, its world view and the realities of and profi t fundamentally contradicts how ecological processes , as well as the limits things work in nature, where inputs and of the natural world. outputs are equal, and all things work in an interconnected web of balance. May 24th, 2017 marked the 27th-year Judi knew that a human-centered and anniversary of the car-bombing of upon domination, human societies must Earth First! activists Judi Bari and human-dominated world view was in return to a more feminine and biocentric Daryl Cherney on their road tour to direct conflict with the true nature of view, writing: “Instead of this masculine promote Redwood Summer and gain the world, which revolves around nature system of separation and domination, permanent protections for old-growth and its processes. Judi wrote of the ecofeminists seek to promote a science redwood forests, such as Headwaters contrary nature of anthropocentrism of nature. Nature is seen as holistic and Forest. This upcoming November and biocentrism, stating: “Biocentrism is interdependent, and humans as part of 3 rd, 2017, EPIC (Environmental a law of nature that exists independently nature, our fates inseparable.” Protection Information Center) will of whether humans recognize it or not. Judi’s words ring more true today than posthumously award Judi Bari with the It doesn’t matter whether we view the ever, as we see the global atmospheric Semperviren Lifetime Achievement world in a human-centered way. Nature greenhouse gas component continue Award for her career of work for still operates in a biocentric way. And the to skyrocket. Last October, global environmental and social justice. failure of modern society to acknowledge this—as we attempt to subordinate all scientists announced that carbon dioxide Judi understood of nature to human use—has led us to concentrations in our atmosphere had that changes in the brink of collapse of the Earth’s life reached 400-parts-per-billion, and that heart and in support systems.” the earth had crossed over into a new culture, and geologic phase from the Holicene to the not simply Judi also called out the patriarchal Anthropocene, the “age of man,” a world changes in framework upon which so much of our irreversibly modified by humans. Most

biocentrism & law, politics, modern-day industrial capitalist society credible climate scientists recognize RevolutionaRydeep ecology ecology and policies, is built, hallmarked with top-down, 350-parts-per-billion GHG (greenhouse were power-over structures that devalue nature, gas) component in our atmosphere as the by Judi BaRi necessary women, and feminine traits in humans upper limit beyond, which planetary life to change and the earth. Judi argued that in place support systems would begin to unravel. the course of a patriarchal framework predicated But the prevailing industrial capitalist

Page 6 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 model cannot recognize the fact that its activities are creating the very device of its own demise. Judi knew that little would change in the system without mass non-cooperation, stating, “[t]he system cannot be reformed. It is based on the destruction of the earth and the exploitation of the people.” At EPIC, we work within the existing framework of the law, regulations, and policies established to bolster a system that we already know cannot be reformed in any fundamental way. We serve the role of enforcing existing laws and regulations and trying to improve these utilizing the mechanisms and venues offered by the system itself. Our work in Sacramento

and elsewhere is critically important in Headwaters Forest p h o t o by D o u g Th ro n holding a line of defense and attempting to slow the progress of the destruction, The compartmentalization of our thought Judi also understood that direct violent but ultimately, as Judi Bari knew, the and reasoning about the natural world conflict with the system and its throngs of system itself must be changed. perfectly sets the stage for tunnel vision. military and police could never succeed. The western “scientific” or what Judi called, While California is undoubtedly a “This system cannot be stopped by force. It “reductionist,” view of the natural world national and global leader in the fight to is violent and ruthless beyond the capacity and the things in it completely fails when recognize and arrest the causes of climate of any people’s resistance movement. The faced with the reality that all things have change, as well as minimize and mitigate only way I can even imagine stopping it the damage already done, our efforts a value of their own, and that all things in is through massive non-cooperation.” are half-measures predicated upon false nature are interconnected. Mass non-cooperation requires a hopes and voodoo accounting. Behind And so, how can all this change? Judi massive change in the hearts, minds, and these failings are the global corporate argued that the machinery of capitalism dispositions of the majority of the global industrial capitalists who wish to must stop, and that this must be population, or at least, the majority of the continue polluting and making a profit accomplished by those operating the population in the industrialized countries. at the expense of the natural world, the machinery, the workers themselves. Some And so, the question remains, can and will people of the planet, and ultimately, the argue that simply changing lightbulbs, the everyday people of this planet wrest very life-support systems that allow it all driving hybrid cars, and transitioning to the steering wheel of this planet away to exist and persist. “clean” energy are all that are necessary from the capitalist industrials captaining Judi argued that one of the greatest failings to avert the impending climate disaster spaceship Earth, or will we sit by sipping of capitalism is that it cannot account for and save human civilization. Judi knew our tea and eating our crumpets as the true value of the natural resources it better: “A revolutionary ideology in the we slam headlong into the climate destroys, extracts, and exploits due to the hands of privileged people can indeed disaster iceberg? very nature of a profit-dominant paradigm. bring about some disruption and change Judi referred to capitalism’s “total in the system. But a revolutionary If all of this has left you feeling blue, disregard for nature as a life-force rather ideology in the hands of working people the best antidote to the climate change than simply a source of raw materials.” can bring the system to a halt. For it is the blues is action. In the words of the union Our forests, water, air, fish, wildlife, and working people who have their hands on organizer, Joe Hill: soils are reduced to bank ledger lines the machinery. And only by stopping the “Don’t mourn, organize!” and to categories such as “assets,” “profits,” machinery of destruction can we ever “capital,” “commodities,” and “liabilities.” hope to stop this madness.” a For more information: wildcalifornia.org

www.treesfoundation.org Page 7 Eel River Fish Populations Showing Signs of Resilience Despite State-Wide Trends By Eel River Recovery Project In May, California Trout (Cal Trout) and the University of California, Davis (UCD) published a report entitled SOS II: Fish in Hot Water, a Pacific salmon status report indicating stocks in the State are in collapse and not likely to maintain viability for more than 50 years. What they fail to do is discern between the ecological condition of the Central Valley and Klamath-Trinity ecosystems and that of the Eel River. While the Eel River ecosystem is showing signs of both resilience and stress, the other systems are in collapse. What follows is an overview of the status of several ecologically Coho juveniles congregate over small woody debris in Jack of Hearts Creek near Branscomb. important Eel River fish species. farming are destroying the river. In fact, Fall Chinook Salmon in 2016-2017, which was nearly double the Eel River is holding its own in terms of what was seen in 2015-2016. More good The Cal Trout/UCD report estimates its Chinook salmon stocks and Eel River news is that there was no sign of disease the Eel River Chinook population to this last year. be between only 5,000-20,000 adults Recovery Project (ERRP) estimates that annually and says diversion and cannabis there were 15,000-30,000 adults returning The stock collapse in the Klamath-Trinity has closed ocean fishing on almost the entire California coast, which is likely to allow for extremely high survival of Eel River Chinook salmon. There is a strong chance of a rebound this year to levels equivalent to 2012, when ERRP estimated that between 20,000 to 50,000 fish spawned, ERRP’s 2016-2017 assessment is to be published soon.

Coho Salmon The upper maintains the last viable population of coho salmon in northwestern California, numbering in at least the thousands annually, and representing the last real chance for maintaining the species in the region. The upper South Fork Eel around Branscomb is the upper extent of the refugia, and it Fall Chinook battle for a chance to spawn with a female on Tenmile Creek extends downstream to Indian Creek th on November 16 , 2016. a l l p h o t o s t h i s a r t i c l e , u n l e ss n o t e d, by Pat H i gg i n s near Piercy, CA. The Redwood Forest

Page 8 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 Foundation owns several tributary watersheds essential to coho recovery in this reach, and restoration projects have already been carried out, along with recovery of their lands. Small tributaries around Branscomb need forest health improvement and additional large wood in the channel to increase carrying capacity. In the longer term, South Fork Eel tributaries like Sproul, Redwood, and Salmon Creeks near Garberville and Redway, and lower Eel and lower tributaries need to have flows restored and sediment supply reduced to allow more full-blown coho recovery.

Steelhead Despite their need to remain in freshwater for two years for optimal survival to Suckers pack into three-foot deep pool with a cold water seep near Dinsmore on the upper Van Duzen River. adulthood, and widespread desiccation of Eel River tributaries, steelhead runs are Sacramento Suckers holding their own. Even streams that have compromised genetically, and runs of chronic flow problems like Soda Creek, winter steelhead are likely in the tens of This is an important member of the an upper Eel River tributary below Scott thousands. However, summer steelhead native Eel River warm water fish Dam, have thousands of young steelhead. face an uncertain future number in the community that lives along the stream bottom and grazes algae. Suckers low thousands, and rely on streams fed by Since steelhead spend several years in the experienced a huge population expansion snow melt when snowpack will likely be ocean and spawn at varying ages, there after the 1964 Flood, as Eel River main is little chance that Eel River stocks are diminished by climate change. channels essentially switched from cold water ecosystems to warm ones. The introduction of the Sacramento pikeminnow caused a huge drop in the sucker population to where they have become rare in some river reaches, such as the South Fork Eel. Thousands of suckers migrating in the main Eel at Dyerville and upstream of Dos Rios indicate that the population is rebuilding. Suckers may also thrive in reaches where they are isolated by waterfalls the pikeminnow can’t jump, such as the upper Van Duzen near Dinsmore.

Sculpin Species Sculpin are like little mini ling cod with big pectoral (front) fins, mottled coloration, and a tendency to go under rocks when alarmed. The Coast Range sculpin tends to inhabit creeks closer Isolated Soda Creek pool holding hundreds of juvenile steelhead, on Nov. 20th, 2016. to the ocean and the prickly sculpin www.treesfoundation.org Page 9 pikeminnow allowed otter populations throughout the basin to increase and ERRP has found very low overall numbers in an index reach of the South Fork Eel River. Patterns of distribution were also restricted. The largest and most predacious of pikeminnow (>18”) are only found in pools deeper than 25 feet or in dense cover like large wood jams so they can escape otter predation. After collecting additional trend data in 2017, ERRP will seek permits from agencies A hard-to-find Sculpin p h o t o by UC B e r k e l e y D o c t o r a l c a n d i dat e P h i l G eo rg a k a ko s to remove large adult pikeminnow and to continue removal for a decade to is distributed in Eel River tributaries High flows in 1983 and 1986 washed permanently suppress the pikeminnow further in the interior. Redwood Sciences masses of pikeminnow to the ocean and and help restore native fish species. Lab studies show these species are 80% they began migration and expansion less abundant in the Van Duzen River into every accessible low gradient Pacific Lamprey than in adjacent coastal rivers like the tributary in the Eel River watershed. One of the greatest signs of hope in the Mattole and Mad due to non-native After exponential growth through the Eel River basin is the huge resurgence pikeminnow predation. Sculpin are rare 1986-1994 drought, the basin-wide of lamprey since 2015. What must be wherever pikeminnow are distributed pikeminnow population was over a hundreds of thousands of these ancient in the Eel River, and not likely to bounce million fish. ERRP has discerned that fish are spawning throughout the Eel back without further suppression of the the fortunes of the pikeminnow began to River watershed, from the tiny creeks near pikeminnow population. reverse during wetter years that followed. Fortuna and Ferndale, to the headwaters Higher flows in wet years from 1995-2012 of Outlet Creek above Willits. This California Roach did not favor pikeminnow reproduction species spends 5-7 years in freshwater When the Eel River runs low in summer, because colder water temperatures and 2-3 years in the ocean; therefore, the thousands of minnows wriggle in the reduce spawning success. The major abundance we are seeing is the result shallowest edges, and hundreds of golden, factor for decline, however, appears to of good recruitment in the years of guppy-like fish can be seen in clouds be otter predation. The abundance of 2005-2007. anywhere there are patches of submerged aquatic vegetation. These are California roach, prolific breeders with a relatively short life span that attain a maximum length of four inches. Experts thought that the roach was introduced to the Eel River basin, but its distribution above water falls in the North Fork and other basins would suggest it is native. UC Berkeley has the question of whether the California roach is native or introduced currently under study.

Sacramento Pikeminnow This species was formerly known as the Sacramento squawfish, and was likely introduced by bass fishermen from Clear Lake into in 1978 or 1979. The population built rapidly as the Pikeminnow juvenile with prominent lateral lines at center and near top with shorter, reservoir was ideal for their exploitation. stouter California roach interspersed and in lower part of picture.

Page 10 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 has been documented in recent years and ERRP has seen as many as seven adults in one dive, and groups up to twenty have been seen in the estuary by anglers.

In conclusion, the Eel River is a vast watershed with swaths of uninhabited wild lands that are in recovery from past land use and flood events. Main river channels have more spawning gravels than in the past thousand years at least, as the fines and mud from the 1964 flood have washed to the sea, leaving perfect conditions for egg incubation for salmon and lamprey. But tributaries are drying up as a result of Male lamprey may assist in redd building that includes selection over-extraction and hydrologic alteration, of individual stones to complete the nest, on May 13th, 2017 P h o t o by E r i c St o c k w e l l and the Eel River’s long-term health cannot be maintained unless its vital large Since flow and ocean conditions as they wander the Pacific Coast in a life tributaries have perennial surface flow remained similarly favorable through that may span 70-100 years. Although the restored. ERRP will continue to work with 2012, it is likely the lamprey will maintain white sturgeon are known to enter the Eel the community to conserve water, prevent a strong return cycle for the next several River, there is no record of their spawning, water pollution, and be in Harmony with years. Diminished pikeminnow predation and they are more suited to larger systems, Nature. We have a much better chance may be a significant factor in lamprey such as the Columbia River. than the rest of California to save salmon population rebound. in the Eel River basin, because we have a Green sturgeon were to have disappeared culture that is more connected and cares. Sturgeon from the Eel River after the 1964 flood, Green and white sturgeon migrate into but there are some encouraging signs they a For more information: the Eel River estuary and Humboldt Bay are rebounding, too. Eel River spawning www.eelriverrecovery.org

Green sturgeon, 12th Street Pool www.treesfoundation.org Page 11 Mattole River and Range Partnership Creating A Community Forest in the Headwaters of the Mattole River

By April Newlander, Sanctuary Forest for the Mattole River and Range Partnership “The coevolution of humans and salmon on the North Pacific Rim fades into antiquity so completely that it is difficult to imagine a first encounter between the two species. Salmon probably arrived first. Their presence can be understood as one of the necessary preconditions for human settlement.” ~ Freeman House, Totem Salmon Historically, salmon have been intrinsically linked with food. In the nineteenth century, salmon were so abundant in the Mattole River that you

could almost effortlessly spear them Family gathering in a Mattole Valley meadow. with a pitchfork as they swam upstream P h o t o by G a l e n D o h e r t y between your feet. David Simpson recalls his first encounter with Mattole salmon the headwaters of the Mattole—refugia for benefits and allow public access” (USFS in the headwaters in 1970—“they were Mattole salmonids and a rich biodiversity Community Forest Program). Benefits of like big ships going up a narrow channel.” of other species. The three Mattole community forests include the protection coho, Chinook, and steelhead salmonids watershed groups worked together for of water sources; protection of wildlife were all federally listed as threatened over two decades before the Mattole habitat; recreational opportunities; a species in the late 1990s; however, these River and Range Partnership (MRRP) was site for observing and studying nature species were experiencing rapid declines formed in 2008. With approximately ¾ of and forest management; and models of by the mid-1970s. the watershed privately owned, landowner conscientious resource management. Active citizens in the Mattole Valley input and collaboration is essential to The Van Arken Community Forest would organized and took action into their the work of the MRRP in achieving our be tailored to meet both ecosystem and own hands in an effort to protect the ultimate goal of abundant, native salmon human needs, and it would be guided native runs of Mattole salmon. It became runs along with healthy, productive by input from a committee of diverse apparent that not only did populations upslope ecosystems and sustainably community members. Partnerships need to be revitalized but that habitat integrated human communities. rehabilitation was necessary for their with agencies such as Bureau of Land survival. Community-based groups Today, Sanctuary Forest has the Management, California Department formed to address restoration efforts on opportunity to conserve and restore 1,600 of Fish and Wildlife, California Wildlife a watershed scale. The Mattole Salmon acres in the Mattole headwaters—the Conservation Board, and our partners Group (est. 1980) focused on salmon Van Arken watershed, along with the in the King Range Alliance including population and habitat restoration; the headwaters of neighboring McKee Creek. Mattole Salmon Group, Mattole Mattole Restoration Council (est. 1983) Our vision is to create a community Restoration Council, and Lost Coast focused on upslope restoration; and forest, defined as “forest lands that are Interpretive Association will be actively Sanctuary Forest (est. 1987) worked to threatened by conversion to non-forest engaged in restoration and educational protect the last of the old-growth forests in uses and can provide defined community activities. Universities will also have the

Page 12 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 opportunity to conduct scientific studies that take a watershed approach.

The Van Arken Community Forest— Envisioning the future Located right off Briceland-Thorn Road just outside the rural town of Whitethorn, CA, is the Van Arken watershed—and where we hope will be the future Van Arken Community Forest. Imagine, as you approach the entrance to the new Van Arken Community Forest, a wooden plaque will be displayed, acknowledging our “Fund-an-Acre Family” and all the donors who have helped conserve this land. A sign will illustrate the network of easy, moderate, and strenuous trails for hiking and biking, and the presence of black bear and mountain lion whose

Hiking in the Madrone Forest in Autumn. P h o t o by A n n a Ro g e r s

home you are about to enter. Information about firewood and mushroom gathering will be available—allowed only at certain times of the year with the appropriate permit. Not far from the entrance is a sunny meadow lined with manzanita shrubs and picnic tables perfect for a family gathering. You can deliberate on which trail you would like to explore—a journey through a majestic old-growth madrone forest where in autumn, golden and red hues of wild mushrooms peek out through the leaf litter and glisten in the light-dappled understory; an educational adventure where restoration actions guided by Sanctuary Forest, the Mattole Salmon Group, and other restoration practitioners will result in year-round cold, clear water with large woody debris and deep pools, and a chance to witness salmon returning to their natal streams; or a voyage ascending higher up in the watershed to a second-growth redwood

Chinook in Van Arken forest where you can relax on a memorial P h o t o by Th o m a s bench and appreciate the spiritual and B. D u n k l i n aesthetic values of this magical forest. www.treesfoundation.org Page 13 Van Arken Summit P h o t o by A n n a Ro g e r s

A mountain bike excursion along the Mattole River headwaters. As you rise “No one will ever know if it was stretch of old logging road will give you above the trees and reach the summit, the introduction of juvenile fish a firsthand look at the aftermath of in clear view is the vast landscape of into the creeks, or the restoration industrial logging and the sustainable the Upper Mattole River and Forest and maintenance of habitat, or the forestry practices that will be implemented Cooperative, a 5,500 acre reserve in the protection of the ancient forest, or to restore forest health. Dense plantations heart of the Mattole headwaters. Doesn’t a combination of the three that has of Douglas-fir will be thinned to retain that sound wonderful? Would you like to resulted in the presence of coho here. the largest trees, and overly dense stands be apart of making this vision a reality? No one much cares. Human hands have been applied in ways that resonate with of tanoak harvested and taken to the local The actions taken by the Mattole River the resilience of the recovery of the wild. Whitethorn Construction Hardwood & Range Partner groups, agencies, I am compelled to tell this story, too, to Mill to be turned into high quality conservation organizations and the my newer neighbors. If these stories hardwood products—a source of revenue Mattole community over the past 30+ to be re-invested into the stewardship of years have resulted in a connected are not kept alive in the collective the land, while strengthening the local landscape where humans, wildlife and memory, the salmon might be allowed economy. Certain areas of the property fish co-exist. Acquisition of the Van Arken to disappear once more.” that possess rare or unique forest types watershed presents a unique opportunity ~ Freeman House, Totem Salmon will be set aside to become the next to not only conserve vital lands and a generation of old-growth forests, which Sanctuary Forest needs your help to recover salmon populations, but provide make this vision become a reality. over time will grow to resemble the an open space for people to come for To make a donation today, visit historic old-growth conditions of the learning and recreational opportunities. www.sanctuaryforest.org/donate.

Page 14 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 Living with Fire Burning the Late Bloomers

By Lenya Quinn-Davidson This piece was adapted from one of Lenya’s monthly “Science Tuesday” blog posts for the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (FAC Net). The mission of the FAC Net is to connect and support people and communities who are striving to live more safely with wildfire. The Network is a catalyst for spreading best practices and innovations in fire adaptation concepts nationwide. Learn more and sign up for the blog at www.fireadaptednetwork.org. The first thing I did on May th25 was smash my ring finger in the door of a truck. I got out to open a gate, and my finger decided to stay with the door as I slammed it shut with my other hand. I didn’t know it was possible for a door to latch with a full knuckle in its way, but indeed it is! It was my third day in the field that week, monitoring invasive grasses as part of a small research project I’m working on with some colleagues at the University of California Cooperative Extension. The first two days we were baking in 102 degree weather in California’s Central Valley, but by Thursday, we were back in the cool fog of Humboldt County, searching out plot locations and joking about which of us should pound the t-posts for our transects: me, with my freshly crushed ring finger, or my coworker Jeff, who had a dislocated thumb. Such an impressive field crew! Medusahead is a late-season grass; it goes to seed after most of its neighbors have For this project, we are testing the turned brown, making it vulnerable to late spring burning. Photo taken in Dye Creek nd effectiveness of prescribed fire for the Preserve burn unit, May 22 , 2017. a l l p h o t o s t h i s a r t i c l e by L e n ya Q u i n n -Dav i d s o n control of medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), an annual grass from the thanks to a number of unlikable traits, high silica content, which not only makes Mediterranean that is considered one of including its ability to rapidly spread it highly unpalatable to livestock for the worst invasives in western rangelands. throughout an area, suppressing growth most of the year, but also results in the Medusahead has earned that reputation of desirable grasses and forbs, and its development of a persistent, silica-rich www.treesfoundation.org Page 15 thatch that further precludes growth of Previous studies have tested various sites, we’ve actually seen trails of grass other plants. Unfortunately, medusahead control options for medusahead, that have been bitten off and then spit is also quite versatile, enjoying not only including grazing, herbicides, and fire. out—immature medusahead that caught intense heat and thin, rocky soils like Grazing has the benefit of trampling, the cattle by surprise. which can (at least temporarily) reduce those in The Nature Conservancy’s Dye Herbicides have been shown to be cover of medusahead, but the grass is so Creek Preserve (where we started our effective, especially when used in distasteful that control via consumption field work in late May), but also the cool conjunction with prescribed fire. One is not a realistic option. In a grazed study showed that medusahead in a climate and relatively rich soils afforded pasture, you can often tell where the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem was best by coastal Humboldt County. Like many medusahead is by looking for islands of controlled with burning followed by non-native invasive plants, medusahead untouched grass amid areas that have application of imazapic, an herbicide that is easy to please and very hard to control. been fully grazed. In some of our field targets broad-leafed plants and some grasses (Davies 2010). This treatment not only controlled the medusahead, but it also resulted in greater establishment of perennial bunchgrasses. But fire alone also appears to be a promising approach; several studies have shown that it can greatly reduce medusahead cover, at least in the years immediately following the fire. A 1996 paper by Pollak and Kan showed that late spring burning on the Jepson Creek Preserve in central California successfully reduced the cover of medusahead and other non-native annual grasses, and increased the cover of native species and important range forbs, like filaree (Erodium species). Another paper from northern California showed that successful control of medusahead was related to the amount of non-medusahead biomass in the unit before the burn (Kyser et al. 2008). More productive sites provided more combustible fuels, allowing for increased fire intensity and better effects. Timing is also a very important consideration when using prescribed fire to control medusahead. It is a late- season grass, meaning that it flowers and goes to seed long after most of its neighbors have turned brown. In an unburned system, this gives medusahead an advantage—it can continue to grow and produce seed without competition Cattle may attempt to eat medusahead, but they’ll often spit it out when they realize from the early-season grasses that share how unpalatable it is. Photo taken in Bridgeville burn unit, May 25th, 2017. its space. But there is also a window when

Page 16 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 it is vulnerable to fire and nothing else is; other plants have dropped their seeds, but medusahead seeds are still on the plant and surrounded by dry fuels. I think this late-season quality may be medusahead’s only likable trait! Beyond timing, the size and shape of the burn can have a strong influence on the success of the treatment, as can the species composition of the area. A recent study by Sasha Berleman and her colleagues (Berleman et al. 2016) showed that smaller treatment areas may be more vulnerable to seed dispersal from nearby patches of medusahead. Likewise, treatments are most effective in places where other grass species can survive the fire, reestablish quickly, and outcompete the medusahead. In their study, Berleman et al. showed that the fecundity of wild oats (Avena spp.) significantly increased after fire, giving it an immediate advantage over medusahead, which did not share the same response (Berelman et al. 2016). These studies are exciting not only because they help us understand how to manage medusahead, which is fairly common throughout our region, but also because their results might translate to other late-season invasives that we all despise, like star thistle. I think these studies are also important because In this photo, you can see the areas where cattle have grazed (green patches) and the they remind us of the nuance involved islands of medusahead that have been left behind. Photo taken in Bridgeville burn unit, in using fire—we have to take the time June 5th, 2017. to understand the physiology of the individual plants we’re managing, and (In this case, I also had a solid reminder to remember that fire can be a powerful of how important it is to move my hand tool for shaping the composition and before slamming a heavy truck door— s structure of our plant communities. learning opportunities abound!) Trees Foundation Board Member Lenya Quinn-Davidson is the Area Fire References: Advisor for University of California Berleman, S. A., Suding, K. N., Fry, D. L., Bartolome, J. W., & Stephens, S. L. (2016). Prescribed Fire Effects on Cooperative Extension in Eureka and Population Dynamics of an Annual Grassland. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 69(6), 423-429. the Director of the Northern California Davies, K. W. (2010). Revegetation of medusahead-invaded sagebrush steppe. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 63(5), 564-571. Prescribed Fire Council. She works Kyser, G. B., Doran, M. P., McDougald, N. K., Orloff, S. B., Vargas, R. N., Wilson, R. G., & DiTomaso, J. M. (2008). on a wide range of issues, including Site characteristics determine the success of prescribed burning for medusahead (Taeniatherum caput- research, outreach, and policy related medusae) control. Invasive plant science and management, 1(4), 376-384. Pollak, O., & Kan, T. (1998). The use of prescribed fire to control invasive exotic weeds at Jepson Prairie Preserve. to prescribed fire and fire management In Ecology, conservation, and management of vernal pool ecosystems. Proceedings of 1996 conference. more generally. Feel free to contact her California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California, USA (pp. 241-249). at [email protected]. www.treesfoundation.org Page 17 Diggin’ In: the gienger rePOrt

Gosh or gee—writing this column can get First, with great sadness, we need to continual service to others. He passed diffi cult from time to time. Here’s a little commemorate the life and achievements away after health issues all of a sudden list of what I’d like to cover for this issue of Dennis Huber. Dennis’ great energy, became overwhelming. The noted of Forest and River News. Any of these talent, articulateness, wry humor, and painter, Stuart Moskowitz passed topics could take up the whole column perseverance affected many people away on the same day in May under and more, so I’m going to try and take you and organizations. KMUD and the similar circumstances. on an abbreviated narrative that touches Community Park were just some of on some of each. the more recent things that Dennis Some of this “rain year’s” perspectives: • Forest Stewards Guild— contributed to and elevated in his Claire Trower on Wilder Ridge in the Parker Ranch tour • Planning Watershed Pilot Project and fi eld trip to Campbell Creek Planning Watershed • Huckleberry Hill Dinner Creek crossing replacement on Briceland Road • Hydrologic/Geologic perspectives and 2016-2017 • Usal and Needle Rock Roads and related isues • Multiple partnerships realized or The tour on the uneven-aged selection managed Parker Ranch, in the 10 Mile River needed on the “Lost Coast:” (e.g. Basin in Fort Bragg, which is under a Non-industrial Timber Management Plan. a l l p h o t o S t h i S a r t i c l e , e xc e p t w h e r e n o t e d, by r i c h a r d G i e n G e r RFFI/URF, Lost Coast Forestlands, California Department of Parks and Recreation, InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, Bureau of Land Management, fi re and emergency organizations, and many others) • Struggles over Sustained Yield and Cumulative Impacts • Klamath, fi re, and fi sh • Protracted Struggle to protect/ conserve vital forested areas of the Mattole Valley • RFFI/Usal Redwood Forest 10-year Restoration Planning South Fork Eel spawning surveys • Field tour of the Campbell Creek Planning Watershed—the area of the initial Planning This column also features: “In The Watershed Pilot Project intended to address cumulative impacts, forest and watershed Spawning Ground,” a poem by Brian restoration, and information needs/transparency. This particular site, also in the 10 Mile River Basin in Fort Bragg, is a Variable Retention/modifi ed Clear-cut Tripp, internationally acclaimed Karuk —a common industrial practice that includes lethal “hack & squirt” artist and singer. herbicides to kill mainly tan-oak.

Page 18 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 The new 10’ diameter (!) culvert at Huckleberry Hill on Briceland Road, with mitigations to reduce erosion and facilitate fi sh passage.

Mattole Valley reported 199.61 inches beautiful job of managing these NTMPs. The initial Planning Watershed Pilot on June 6th, and hopes/expects to go A recent tour of the Parker Ranch was Project had a meeting in Fort Bragg and a over 200 inches with the rain predicted sponsored by the Forest Stewards Guild fi eld tour of the Campbell Creek Planning for June 8th. Th ere are several defi nitions (FSG). Linwood Gill is the new Head Watershed (in the South Fork 10 Mile of ‘rain year’ dates, but I think that the Forester for Redwood Forest Foundation’s River) a few days after the Parker Ranch predominant one goes from July 1st to Usal Redwood Forest, and the lead for the tour. Th e scope of work for the two-year June 30th of the following year. A not-too- California chapter of the FSG. pilot is being arduously determined. far-away neighbor of Claire’s, at a higher elevation, recorded 223 inches by June 6th. Pretty nice ‘winter’ for California— I guess the Oroville Dam drama and potential catastrophe fi ts in there for the overall picture. The Parker Ranch in the 10 Mile River Basin, North of Fort Bragg on the coast, is one of three large areas under a Non- Industrial Timber Management Plan (NTMP) for application of uneven-aged forestry on forested holdings of 2500 acres. Most of the rest of the basin remains under the application of “industrial forestry” that started in the 1800s with heavy impacts still being made, but now constrained by the regulatory system that started in the 1970s and the depleted nature of the forest itself. The NTMPs literally stand out as three forested islands in the basin when observed from the air. Foresters Linwood Gil and Craig Blencowe have done a The huge slide on Highway 101 just South of Bridges Creek www.treesfoundation.org Page 19 Leggett. Highway 1 was closed for 100 days. Something comprehensive needs to be done to correct these road connections that are so important for the present and future of the Lost Coast. I was shocked by a video of people 4-wheeling up the steep grassy slopes at Usal Beach—wasn’t local yahoos and wasn’t the north side— church group from the Sacramento Valley assaulting the south side. There is continuing conflict over forest issues, especially regarding the achievement of high-quality sustained forests, dealing with cumulative impacts, and sequestering carbon/reducing greenhouse gases. Related pipeline fights are going on all over—from proposed British Columbia, Northern California, Pennsylvania pipelines, and The slide that blocked Highway 1 for 100 days, just West of Leggett, CA. many more. In most places, don’t expect notices, warnings, or public processes to protect water, land/property, and See past Forest & River News editions to be retained within the CMP. Th ere are people. Try searching “eminent domain for background. The goals include some questions about whether stream pipeline struggles.” seriously making headway in dealing dynamics in the given situation will allow with cumulative impacts and engaging that retention. In May, there was another fantastic in restoration activity on an eff ective and Mid-Klamath Fire Ecology Symposium We sure have gotten some hydrologic/ broader scale for California’s private and and tours. Search “Mid-Klamath Fire geologic perspectives this past rainy state forestlands. You the public are part Ecology Symposium 2017” and get the season. The state is stepping up to get of this, and you can participate as the presentations as well as links to the issues, significant funds for CalTrans and the working group moves forward. Check as well as groups and tribes working out ftp://ftp.fi re.ca.gov/forest/0_TRFRP_ counties to deal with the battered road together on vital community and forest CampbellCreek/. Forests Forever is infrastructure. Try and see if you can and river needs. The ruggedness of that helping the public keep up on this. get to the spectacular video of one of country and the huge areas of intensive the landslide events burying Highway fi re impacts are daunting, but progress is In my last column I described a serious 101 south of Bridges Creek by entering being made for positive responses. Dinner Creek crossing failure at the “25 April 2017 Highway 101 landslide base of Huckleberry Hill on Briceland Leggett.” The more recent massive Th e runs of Chinook salmon predicted for Road about ½ mile east of the Ettersburg landslide(s) burying Highway 1 near Big the Klamath this year, one of the lowest Junction. Since then quite a broad array Sur is worth checking out as well. returns, are so bad that there is anxiety of county, state, agency, and contractors over whether there will be enough conferred to create a new crossing Even more locally, the Usal Road and for even the barest subsistence and with mitigations to reduce erosion Needle Rock Road both took ‘big hits’ ceremonies. A special salmon hearing and facilitate fish passage. The main this winter—Usal Road mostly with was held recently by a joint committee, contractor, Wilcox Enterprises, skillfully bad drainage/gullying, and the Needle chaired by Senator Mike McGuire placed and armored the inlet and outlet Rock Road with landslides. People even— and co-chaired by Assemblymember of the 10 foot diameter corrugated metal unsuccessfully—tried to use the Usal and Jim Wood. Representatives from the pipe (CMP) and reshaped/stabilized the Usal Redwood Forest Roads to get around Yurok, Hoopa, and Karuk Tribes, along topography. Th e CMP is buried deep into both the big slide on 101 at Bridges Creek with commercial fisherman testified the channel to allow a natural streambed and the Highway 1 slide(s) just west of to the bleakness of the situation. Quite

Page 20 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 alarming. Go to http://senate.ca.gov/ Plan for the Usal Redwood Forest. This 2016” is out. It covers the South Fork media-archive to select the May 24th will fi t into the overall stewardship plan tributaries in Mendocino County for hearing of the Joint Committee of along with the Forest Management Plan the 2016-2017 spawning season, and was Fisheries and Aquaculture and watch, and other future planning eff orts. With completed by the Pacific States Marine listen, or download the whole hearing. the help and work of Trout-Unlimited Fisheries Commission in partnership with It’s worth it... and Pacific Watershed Associates, a the California Department of Fish and Restoration Design Project has been Wildlife. It’s 27 pages long and has a lot of As I write there is a non-violent, but submitted to the Department of Fish important related information. I’m happy adamant, forest defender blockade in the and Wildlife. This is a joint proposal to give you a few excerpts that I had to Rainbow Ridge area between the Lower with Lost Coast Forestlands (LCF) for directly type from the document: and Upper North Forks of the Mattole the design of restoration measures to River. Negotiations that started with be implemented in Indian Creek and from page i: “. . . 227 spawning ground Pacifi c Lumber/Maxxam and continued the four magnifi cent tributaries: Moody, surveys were conducted over 40 under the ownership of Humboldt Sebbas, Coulborn, and Anderson spatially balanced, randomly selected Redwood Company (HRC) to protect Creeks. RFFI is also working with LCF reaches in the South Fork Eel River special un-entered and old forest areas to incorporate the production of biochar Watershed from November 3, 2016 to prompted the action, as HRC had crews to go with LCF’s efforts to have small- March 9, 2017. . . During the 2016-2017 hack-and-squirt herbicide on hardwoods scale custom milling as well as fi rewood survey season, crews observed 102 live prior to commencing logging. Many are processing on the old Andersonia mill coho salmon, 360 live Chinook salmon, especially alarmed because the Lower site recently acquired by LCF. 8 live steelhead, and 36 unidentifi ed North Fork produced amazing numbers salmonids. Crews encountered 6 coho It’s hard to access via the internet, so of Chinook fry this past spawning salmon carcasses, 102 Chinook salmon you might actually try getting in touch season—something that spawning carcasses, 1 steelhead carcass, and with Department of Fish and Wildlife’s surveyors had not seen since surveys 9 unidentifi ed salmonid carcasses. Allan Renger at (707) 725-7194—but the began in the early 1980s. A total of 320 redds were detected, “Results of Regional Spawning Ground of which 86 redds were observed to On some kinder-gentler fronts: Redwood Surveys and Estimates of Total Salmonid be associated with a specifi c salmonid Forest Foundation Inc. (RFFI) is moving Redd Construction in the South Fork species while in the fi eld…Th e number to put together a 10 Year Restoration Eel River, Humboldt County California, of redds observed in sample reaches was expanded to estimate the number of redds constructed across the entire South Fork Eel River sample frame. Redd abundance estimates for the 2016-2017 spawning season in the South Fork Eel River, including 95% confi dence levels, were 465 (. . .) coho salmon redds, 1,458 (. . .) Chinook salmon redds, and 54 (. . .) steelhead redds.” The two adjacent survey reaches in Anderson Creek in the URF had the highest numbers of observed live coho (47), near the top for live Chinook sightings (49), and tops for observed redds (61). Th is is the stream where many from the Mattole and Whale Gulch worked to modify logjams for fish passage in Long Ridge and Tyler Peak in the Rainbow Ridge area in 2000. A non-violent, but adamant, forest defender blockade has begun to protect special un-entered and old 1979-1981. In 1979-1980 there was a run forest areas here. p h o t o c o u r t e S y tr e e S F o u n dat i o n a rc h i v e S comparable to some places in Alaska. Th e www.treesfoundation.org Page 21 Indian Creek Valley was fragrant with the At a Salmon Benefit to help Tribes, Thank you, Brian, for giving permission smell of rotting carcasses—often stacked fi sherman, and others assist with Salmon to reprint this here. Readers, please high on the slopes above spawning conservation and recovery, Brian Tripp search out Brian’s incredible work—from grounds by the bears—bears and bald opened with a beautiful and moving paintings to sculptures to assemblages to eagles were everywhere. Can’t help but get traditional song that blended into his his “Water Is Life” design. excited by that place. poem, “In the Spawning Ground.” In closing, please keep active. Go to organizations that will help you make some informed decisions for your involvement. Help Sanctuary Forest with their Van Arken Community Forest “Fund-an-Acre” project and take part in their hikes program.

Since arriving in the Mattole Valley of Humboldt County in 1971, Richard Gienger has immersed himself in homesteading, forest activism, and watershed restoration. Richard’s column covers a range of issues including fi sheries and watershed restoration and forestry, plus describes opportunities for the public to make positive contributions in the administrative and legislative arenas as well as in their own backyards.

To Get Involved

C Richard Gienger [email protected] 707-223-6474 C California Legislative Information www.leginfo.ca.gov C California Natural Resources Agency resources.ca.gov/forestry C Forests Forever www.forestsforever.org C RFFI www.rffi .org CEPIC wildcalifornia.org C Sanctuary Forest www.sanctuaryforest.org Page 22 TForest & River News a Summer 2017 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work

came roaring across highways, sinkholes Richardson Grove opened up, and the tires of our vehicles Redux: Trucks vs. crashed into potholes and disintegrating Redwoods Round 2 pavement. Nationally, poor road conditions cost motorists $67 billion a year in repairs Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters and operating costs, and heavier trucks by Karen Pickett, Bay Area Coalition will only make bad conditions worse. for Headwaters, Berkeley New projects that primarily benefi t the Caltrans has been adamant ever since trucking industry are not of a higher priority they lost their Richardson Grove Highway for most people than maintenance of Realignment case* in Federal Court and existing roads and expansion of alternative were chastised by the judge for their false transportation means. Th e trucks Caltrans data and sloppy analysis. Th e agency was is spending millions of public funds to determined to resurrect their plan to accommodate are “STAA trucks” (Surface accommodate oversized STAA big rig Transportation Assistance Act of 1982), trucks on Hwy. 101 through the heart of which are now populating the big interstates Richardson Grove p h o t o c o u r t e S y epic redwood country. So their announcement like I-5 and I-80. But these longer, heavier big in May 2017 of new documents outlining rigs don’t belong on unstable coastal roads Because Caltrans issued an “Addendum the same plan many organizations had winding through protected ancient forests. to the Final EIR” rather than developing fought for years, came as no surprise— a new one, there is no public comment but it makes it no more palatable. Th ere is much reliance in the just- released documents on the original 2010 period. Other avenues for voices opposed Caltrans did make minor changes in Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to this waste of public funds and threat what they call the “Richardson Grove documents, including an unabashed to forest ecology must be found and Improvement Project,” including some carrying forward of the Finding of No used—from writing to Caltrans directly positive ones like reducing the overall Signifi cant Impact (FONSI), despite the (1120 N St., Sacramento 95814), writing amount of fi ll, reducing the cubic yards fact that the plans still employ, among letters to the editor, mobilizing people to be excavated from around old-growth other features, a pneumatic excavator via social media (Caltrans has a Facebook redwood roots, and slightly shrinking around the roots of ancient redwoods page with an announcement of this the footprint; but the concerns from (akin to a jackhammer), clearly posing a plan, with comments), and telling Gov. economic, ecologic, and community threat to the old trees’ health and long life. Jerry Brown that if he really wants to be perspectives remain essentially the same. a leader in reducing human impacts on Th is road widening—a straightening of the climate change, his transportation agency curves, if you will—is proposed in a publicly- needs to drop its truck and car-centric, owned ancient redwood forest, within a bigger faster highway agenda and focus 97-year old State Park, encompassing critical on low carbon transportation options potential and current habitat for at-risk as well as repairs that make existing and sensitive species. Moreover, most of roads safer and more fuel effi cient. California’s residents, who fi ll Caltrans BACH’s “Put the Brakes on Caltrans” coff ers with their tax dollars, would rather project, for its part, is mobilizing in the the agency put their budget and staff to work Bay Area and planning its media strategy. on the plethora of other needed repairs on the state’s highways. In our drenching winter You can fi nd the project documents at: S o u rc e : “tr u c k m a p l eG e n d ; tr u c k of 2016-17, the road maintenance and repair l e n G t h S a n d ro u t e S ,” p rov i d e d by Stat e http://dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/ needs came into stark relief as hillsides o F c a l i F o r n i a , d e p t. o F tranSportation richardson_grove/ T www.treesfoundation.org Page 23 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work

We will soon have addresses and sample letters on our website at http://HeadwatersPreserve.org

*Plaintiff s in the case challenging Caltrans’ project were EPIC, the Center for Biological Diversity, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, and individuals. a For more information: headwaterspreserve.org

Eel River Recovery Project Wilderness Committee Projects and New Energy in Willits Eel River Recovery Project Fuels reduction project to protect the historic Bauer Ranch that is an in-holding in the Yuki Wilderness. p h o t o by pat h i G G i n S Th e Eel River Recovery Project (ERRP) Wilderness Committee continues building that were used to suppress the Lodge Fire of its premier research stream, Elder community success in caring for and in 2014. Twenty-one people, including Creek, could be impacted by the lingering protecting existing Wilderness Areas. Most folks from local fi re districts, the California eff ects of fi re suppression eff orts. Tribal recently, we worked cooperatively with Wilderness Coalition (CalWild) and the and BLM foresters assessed black oak the Arcata Offi ce of the Bureau of Land UC Berkeley Angelo Reserve participated grove health. Ladder fuels were cut by Management (BLM) and the Cahto Tribe in the project. Th e Angelo Reserve took hand to reduce future fi re intensity and to prevent erosion from old bull dozer lines special interest because the headwaters lopped and scattered for soil building and

th Celebrating the 10 Anniversary of the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act. p h o t o by blm o u t d o o r p l a n n e r m i k e m i l ay

Page 24 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work

retention. Th e crew also rehabilitated a damaged meadow area as a result of dirt bike incursion. Culverts were also cleared to keep them from plugging and causing erosion. Th e second day, Cahto Tribal cultural specialists led BLM resource staff and ERRP Wilderness co-chairs in an assessment and planning hike.

ERRP joined CalWild in celebrating the tenth anniversary of the North Coast Wilderness Act that created several Wilderness Areas within the Eel River basin. With the help of CalWild, ERRP took bus loads of Round Valley Elementary School students to the , a wild tributary of the Middle Fork. Other nearby ERRP Outdoor Coordinator Eric Stockwell looks on at right, as volunteers join events included a cleanup project on the Sarah Kupferberg (second from left) in frog egg mass count. p h o t o by pat h i G G i n S lower Black Butte and fi re-risk reduction adjacent to the Yuki Wilderness. Th e latter where ERRP has a new offi ce. Shortly thinned undergrowth to reduce fi re threat Annual Yellow-Legged after 10 AM, Sarah Kupferberg oriented to the historic Bauer Ranch that is in an Frog Egg Count at us at river-side and we immediately saw in-holding. Th e Yuki Wilderness is managed Benbow Indicates yellow-legged frog egg masses. ERRP jointly by the Mendocino National Forest volunteer David Sopjes and ERRP Outdoor and BLM. Th ese agencies and Bauer Family Successful Mitigation for Coordinator Eric Stockwell supplied kayaks Ranch staff joined other ERRP volunteers. Benbow Dam Removal so that both sides of the South Fork could All the work was done using hand tools. Eel River Recovery Project be surveyed, even though fl ows remained ERRP has established an offi ce in Willits, a little high for wading in some places. Th e Eel River Recovery Project (ERRP) and residents there are wild about the has been supplying volunteer monitoring Yellow-legged frog egg masses look like a idea of getting out into the surrounding support to Dr. Sarah Kupferberg, a UC golf ball of caviar immediately after being Wilderness Areas and wild lands of the Eel Berkeley graduate and yellow-legged frog deposited, and then take on a dusty look River watershed. On March 18th, ten Willits expert, since 2014. Sarah uses the number and expand to the size of a tennis ball over folks went to the upper Eel River, above of yellow-legged frog egg masses per ten days before tadpoles hatch. Eggs are and below Scott Dam. Th ey saw dozens kilometer as an indicator of river health on the downstream side of cobbles and of Tule elk on the grassy plain above Lake and has been collecting data on the South boulders out of the current and in relatively Pillsbury and visited a successful restoration Fork Eel River at Benbow State Park. Th e shallow water to avoid predation by fi sh. project on Soda Creek downstream of Scott fi eld data collection took on new meaning Counting frog eggs is done while walking Dam. On April 2nd, Wilderness Committee this year as ERRP volunteers had helped upstream on the edge of the stream or while co-chair Jeff Hedin led clearing of the road Sarah move hundreds of thousands of wading in shallow water near it. Polarized into Dann Creek, and folks from Willits eggs in 2016 to prevent their destruction sunglasses cut glare off the water and help were able to see where ERRP had cleaned by the removal of the foundation of the old improve counting ability on bright days. up cartel marijuana grows previously. Benbow Dam. What impact had the rescue Th e result of the day’s census was a total of project had locally on yellow-legged frogs? a Check out EelRiverRecovery.org 353 yellow-legged frog egg masses, which or see ERRP’s Facebook page to stay informed. Call Jeff at Th is year’s volunteer team was augmented was the highest one-day count from any 707-247-3030, if you want to get involved. by folks who traveled north from Willits, previous sampling dates. Many of the

www.treesfoundation.org Page 25 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work egg clusters were also small, indicating One delightful aspect of this fi eld course good female recruitment in recent prior Mattole Field Institute was the diverse age group: it was attended years. Th e data suggest that there was no Launches Spring Series by a 6 year-old, a 79 year-old, and everyone in between. Together we learned to identify harm to the yellow-legged frog population Free Field Courses Engage Local from last year’s relocation eff orts. Th e Residents with Natural World various medicinal plants growing along roadsides and in the forest of lower Mill very high count may also be in part a Mattole Restoration Council Creek, and then had a classroom session result of prolonged high spring fl ows that By Flora Brain where we learned additional properties would wash frog eggs away. It is highly of the plants, with a hands-on session of likely that yellow-legged frogs delayed Th e Mattole Field Institute has primarily medicine-making. Participants who stayed their spawn timing and spawning activity been a partnership between the Mattole for the latter portion took home medicinal was concentrated instead of staggered. Restoration Council and Humboldt State tinctures and salves they had prepared University, off ering intensive week-long themselves, as well as a guide to herbal State Parks removed Benbow Dam courses. But this spring it began what will medicine-making prepared by Nicole. during summer last year. Th e remaining hopefully be an annual tradition: off ering th abutment on the north shore of the a series of free, one-day fi eld courses to On April 19 , thirteen community members river will be removed in the future, but local residents and anyone else seeking joined professional tracker Kim Cabrera not this year because fl ows are too to learn more about the natural world. for an introduction to wildlife tracking high. See drone video of South Fork Eel techniques. Th e group, ranging from 8 years On April 1st, the Mattole Field Institute ran at Benbow: https://www.youtube.com/ old to roughly 70, explored exposed mud a well-attended course in Medicinal Herbs and sandbars in the Mattole River estuary. watch?v=4PbgfCphYvE&authuser=0 with a local teacher, the clinical herbalist Despite recent rains, we encountered tracks a For more information: Nicole Gagliano. Twenty-three community made by coyote and deer, and when we went www.eelriverrecovery.org members came out for the instructional hike. to investigate an area where otter tracks had been seen the day before, we were in for a grand surprise. Th e otter tracks had been washed away by rising tidewaters but as we stood there, one of the participating boys nonchalantly stated, “there’s an otter.” Th ere was a river otter swimming about twenty feet away. “Wouldn’t it be cool if he climbed up the bank and made some tracks?” Kim joked. We then watched as the otter clambered out of the water through some wet sand (perfect tracking substrate!) and frolicked in a patch of dry sand, rolling around and showing off his white belly. As we photographed and gawked, he defecated and eventually returned to the water. Kim then led us to his tracks and scat, where we learned all about otter jelly (you don’t want to eat it). Our day was cut short by a powerful rainstorm, but all were energized and grateful for the magical encounter Professional tracker Kim Cabrera (center) demonstrates how to interpret signs of river otters to participants in the Mattole Field Institute’s free Spring Series. we’d had with the otter, and for another p h o t o by F lo r a b r a i n beautiful day out in the fi eld in the Mattole.

Page 26 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work

over half a century. Having completed phase one, we are now looking for support to fi nish the entire restoration project.

Located just north of San Francisco, SPAWN has been hard at work healing this terribly scarred landscape. Th e long-abandoned Redi-mix concrete plant operated on the banks of Lagunitas Creek for over 50 years, mixing and distributing cement for use in regional construction projects.

Knowing something had to be done, SPAWN embarked on a project with the Black Mountain Ranch, the landowner who operates a 1,000-acre conservation ranch, who was eager to help improve the habitat at the derelict site. Together SPAWN biologists and the landowner discussed what could be done about the site, how it could be

Kirsten Free discusses the use of local seaweeds as part of a free Mattole Field implemented, and what the results would Institute class, while a participant (at right) samples the edible seaweed fucus, be. Beginning in 2014 with the generous known to help balance the thyroid. p h o t o by F lo r a b r a i n support of SPAWN members and a grant from the California Department of Fish and On April 28th, Th omas Dunklin taught be outside, learning about the natural Wildlife, SPAWN started the engineering a fantastic course that covered tectonics, world. We are grateful to the Grace US and permitting needed to restore the local earthquake history, and geology of the Foundation for supporting our Spring once productive fl oodplain complex. Triple Junction. A smaller group allowed Series program. Make sure to check Th en, they began an eff ort to reforest the for an intimate educational experience out our free spring classes in 2018! mile-long corridor with redwoods and as we traveled from Cape Mendocino, other trees, which were also logged as along Seven Mile Beach, into the Mattole a For more information: www.mattole.org part of the cement plant development. Valley and then up Prosper Ridge, taking SPAWN crews removed the levee that in evidence of coastal uplift all along the ringed the entire cement plant, opening way. If that wasn’t enough, early the next SPAWN Restoration fl oodplain habitat to spawning and rearing morning Kirsten Free taught a sustainable at Former Cement coho. Crews also removed more than 450 seaweed harvesting course. Eager gatherers Plant a Success cubic yards of crumbling asphalt from came out and learned how to identify and Salmon Protection And old parking pads that were slowly headed harvest wakame, nori, kombu, sea lettuce, Watershed Network for the creek; 500 cubic yards of concrete and a handful of other useful seaweeds, rubble and waste; and 1,200 cubic yards including one called feather boa that is By Preston Brown of fi ll dumped in the fl oodplain corridor. put to delightful use in the bathtub! Th anks to the help of hundreds of volunteers, In total, more than two acres of fl oodplain Th ose last days of late April were marked the Salmon Protection And Watershed habitat have been recreated at this critical by gorgeousness as the stormy season Network (SPAWN) recently fi nished confl uence from former cement parking fi nally subsided into the shockingly the fi rst phase of restoration at the long- pads to a now vibrant, young, riparian forest. bright blue glare of a Humboldt spring. abandoned Redi-mix concrete plant, which SPAWN crews and volunteers planted more It’s one of the nicest times of the year to has not seen trees or any vegetation for than 2,500 native riparian plants at the site,

www.treesfoundation.org Page 27 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work

to participate in fi eld tours that highlight innovative salmon restoration practices. Th is year, SRF is collaborating with several groups to produce this educational event including Sanctuary Forest, Mattole Restoration Council, and Mattole Salmon Group. Th is event is generously funded by California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program.

Th e Coho Confab will open Th ursday evening, August 24th, with a community dinner and inspiring keynote presentations from Carlos Garza of NOAA Fisheries, who will address prospects for recovery and restoration of coho salmon in California.

Before (above) and after Sungnome Madrone, Executive Director (right) restoration work at of the Mattole Salmon Group, will present the long-abandoned Redi- on landowner stewardship incentives. mix concrete plant on the banks of Lagunitas Creek. Tasha McKee, Program Director of p h o t o by Spawn Sanctuary Forest, and Elijah Portugal of Redwood Community Action Agency all grown at SPAWN’s native plant nursery wildlife to survive for years to come. will give a presentation on what we can and adapted to local ecological conditions. To do this will require the sustaining learn from beaver structures and apply support from members and volunteers. towards salmon restoration planning. Th is winter was a true test for our new Friday will start off with concurrent restoration work, with fl oodwaters now a If you are interested in learning morning tours including a Mattole estuary easily spilling the bank and saturating more about this or other projects, or becoming a supporting member, contact tour featuring heliwood placement, terrace the fl oodplain where coho could get Preston Brown [email protected]. margin treatments, off -channel slough out of the way of high fl ows. After the restoration, and riparian planting and waters receded, we were glad to see bioengineering techniques. Th ere will that the site held up well and created Destination Confab! also be a Prosper Ridge prairie tour to instant habitat for endangered coho. 20th Annual Coho Confab in the showcase grassland reclamation and fuels th th Th e site is thriving, with vigorous tree Mattole, August 24 -26 , 2017 reduction in King Range coastal prairie and shrub saplings growing exponentially, Salmonid Restoration Federation systems. After the morning tours, we will beginning to take on new growth over a all corral up at the historic Mattole Grange Salmonid Restoration Federation (SRF) for afternoon concurrent workshops thick layer of native grasses and wildfl owers th is coordinating the 20 Annual Coho including Coho Recovery Planning from that is alive with birds and insects. th th Confab that will take place August 24 -26 state, ESU (Evolutionary Signifi cant Unit), We hope to continue this work across in the beautiful Mattole River Valley in and watershed levels with coho recovery the entire site, completely removing all Humboldt County. Th e Coho Confab is a coordinator from the Southern Oregon forms of the derelict cement plant and fi eld symposium to learn about watershed Northern California Coast ESU, Julie restoring the site to what once was a restoration and techniques to restore and Weeder, Geneticist Carlos Garza, and complex, dynamic, and diverse riparian recover coho salmon populations. Th e Sungnome Madrone. Since the Coho fl oodplain, creating habitat that will allow Confab provides an ideal opportunity to Recovery team is no longer meeting in endangered coho and other impaired network with other fi sh-centric people and person, this is a great opportunity to

Page 28 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work

Th e Collaborative Water Management (CWM) framework is a model for voluntary, watershed-based and stakeholder-driven collaborative water management. By seeking to leverage existing policies (e.g. North Coast Instream Flow Policy, 1707 instream fl ow dedications, etc.) and established management tools (e.g. coordinated management of diversions, storage and forbearance, large wood restoration, etc.), the CWM is intended to maximize the opportunities and feasibility

An adult coho salmon p h o t o by SrF to implement projects. Th e overarching objectives of the CWM approach are to convene and brainstorm about recovery Resources Division, and a Lower promote implementation of management strategies that are eff ective, cost-effi cient, Restoration tour in the Eel River estuary actions and projects in the North Coast and applicable in the Mattole and other that will be co-led by fi sheries biologist, region to enhance summertime rearing Northern California coastal regions. Ross Taylor, and Allen Renger of California habitat for coho and steelhead; increase Department of Fish and Wildlife. water security for landowners; advance Additionally, there will be a workshop new environmentally protective water rights; focused on stewardship tools for landowners Registration fees cover fi eld tours, and avert regulatory interventions. including road improvements, water workshops, meals, and camping. conservation planning, resources, and Th e CWM concept is based on, and seeks to rehabilitation. Th is workshop will feature a To register for the Confab or to explore, the watershed approach included several resource professionals including view the full agenda please visit our website: www.calsalmon.org. Matt Cliff ord, JD, of Trout Unlimited who can address water conservation planning, Tom Leroy of Pacifi c Watershed Associates Collaborative Water to address Best Management Practices, and Cassie Pinnel, Executive Director of Management the Mattole Restoration Council. Th is A Framework for Improving is a great opportunity for landowners Water Security for Landowners to participate in a constructive dialogue and Streamfl ows for Salmon about stewardship opportunities. Salmonid Restoration Federation

On Friday night in Confab tradition, we Salmonid Restoration Federation is will share a farm to table feast, have a excited to be partnering with Th e Nature lively campfi re, and an impromptu talent Conservancy, Mendocino County show or cabaret in the Mattole tradition! Resource Conservation District, Trout Th e last day of the Confab will include two Unlimited, and Sanctuary Forest to advance concurrent fi eld tours including Beaver the development of the Collaborative Gauging station on Indian Creek Dam Analogues and Groundwater Recharge Water Management framework and that provides data to support new Planning in the Mattole Headwaters with create a tributary-scale demonstration environmentally benefi cial wintertime diversion water rights under the North Tasha McKee, Water Project Director, project plan in the Navarro River Coast Instream Flow Policy. and Elijah Portugal of RCAA’s Natural watershed in Mendocino County. p h o t o n a n c y S m i t h

www.treesfoundation.org Page 29 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work in the North Coast Instream Flow Policy resources with input from water resource of SFI’s Education Program includes (NCIFP) adopted by the Regional Water management practitioners working in an ongoing commitment to promote Board in 2014 as well as tributary collectives the North Coast region. Th e report will sensible stewardship of the land based that are being developed by Sanctuary provide the essential information and on sound science, and encouraging our Forest and Salmonid Restoration Federation. practical guidance to incentivize and enable diverse community and visitors from Th e NCIFP establishes principles and landowners to collaborate on projects and afar to learn with us how humankind guidelines for maintaining instream fl ows management action to improve streamfl ows. can live in the balance of nature. for the protection of fi shery resources, Instructive inspirational hikes are one way while minimizing water supply impacts a For more information: www.calslamon.org to accomplish this goal and the SFI hike on other benefi cial uses of water, such as program is part of this eff ort. In describing irrigation, municipal use, and domestic the intent of the SFI hike program, Stuart use. Th e Water Board, with support from Legacy of Education, Moskowitz, hike leader and longtime Board conservation groups, included a watershed Sanctuary Forest Inc. member states, “we provide opportunities approach to promote and support voluntary Sanctuary Forest for folks to spend time in nature and collaborative eff orts to secure new water experience the awe of sensing the true rights that improve environmental By Eric Shafer fl ows. Th e NCIFP approach, however, values of wilderness. I always look forward “Nature must be experienced through requires participants to provide specifi c to leading eager hikers on the trail that feeling…[e]verything is interwoven, as provisions including formal agreements, leads to such a magnifi cent old-growth tree with [thousands] of threads.” management plans, and monitoring to that has been around for over 2,000 years.” ~ Alexander Von Humboldt, 1800 ensure measurable results. A goal of the Along with Richard Gienger, Stuart leads CWM project is to advance and inform the It is here in the headwaters of the Mattole the Big Red hike. Th e Big Red hike is one NCIFP watershed approach by providing River, home to Sanctuary Forest Inc. (SFI), of the regular features of a hike program tributary groups with the information and that opportunities to immerse ourselves that started soon after the formation of technical support necessary to not only in nature, share wisdom, and make new SFI. Big Red became the living symbol achieve the requirements of the NCIFP discoveries abound. Th e thirty-year legacy of an organization that has utilized an but also support implementation of other water management projects and policies.

In 2016, the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD), Th e Nature Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited were successful in securing a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) to develop a prioritized list of projects (storage and forbearance, large woody debris (LWD) and infi ltration) and a voluntary coordinated water management model to improve summer base fl ows in the Navarro watershed. Th e CWM project Th e Nature Conservancy is spearheading will help satisfy the requirements of the WCB grant to develop the collaborative model and a plan for tributary-scale pilot project.

Th e CWM Project will produce a report The interpretive hike program began under the leadership based on synthesizing existing informational of Rondal Snodgrass, SFI Founder. p h o t o by Sa n c t u a ry F o r e S t

Page 30 Forest & River News a Summer 2017 Conservation Partner Organizations at Work

ongoing educational outreach component as an essential part of the mission of SFI. Richard has been involved with restoration work in the Mattole since the 1970’s. Many knowledgeable and experienced individuals like Richard add invaluable insight during discussions among hikers on these trails.

Th e hike program began with the training of docents to assist the hike leaders. Th e initial six-week training was an overview of factual information in various areas of science to better inform potential docents. Some of those early docents still participate in hikes. Many younger people have joined the pool Birds of the Lost Coast hike, 2017. p h o t o by Sa n c t u a ry F o r e S t of docents through a streamlined yearly training program and are inspired and So, we started raising funds and awarding used to share valuable information with informed by these elders. Another amazing these gifts to qualifi ed students. I still look residents of the Mattole and beyond. hike that has been part of the SFI program forward to reading the applications and since the beginning is the Bird Walk, led Looking to the future, it is diffi cult to predict helping choose the winners every year.” by Allan Ridley and Helen McKenna, what the next thirty years will bring. SFI is Many past recipients have kept in touch with both consummate birders who have committed to continuing our eff orts as a SFI and shared their stories. “It is extremely traveled the world pursuing their passion land and water trust. Monitoring the river gratifying to have assisted in a small way for discovery. Th is walk in the Sinkyone and its tributaries to keep residents informed in promoting the careers of responsible Wilderness State Park is both informative of critical conditions that aff ect survival of environmentally conscious young people.” and inspiring. One hiker shared, “It was a fi sh and wildlife and help humans live in wonderful way to begin the hike program Collaboration with our sister organizations sustainable ways will continue. Providing this year. I not only learned about birds, but in the Mattole: Th e Mattole Salmon Group, landowners with water storage systems felt so deeply connected to the incredible Mattole Restoration Council, and Th e Lost through the SFI tank program will continue surroundings. Walking slowly and silently, Coast Interpretive Association, is key to the as long as funding can be found. Helping absorbing the sights, sounds, and smells of success of Sanctuary Forest in reaching our organize watershed alliances along the nature, it was a time I will never forget.” educational outreach goals. SFI has formed tributaries to better inform neighbors of eff ective means of improving the health Another important component of the SFI formal partnerships (the Mattole Range and of their unique creeks and springs is a Education Program is to award scholarships River Partnership and King Range Alliance) priority for SFI. Monitoring conservation to selected high school graduates planning with these organizations and the Bureau easements under the legal contracts to pursue college educations in fi elds of of Land Management, BLM. Cooperative made with landowners and SFI will also study related to environmental science. Will work with outside governmental agencies continue into the distant future. As our Bell, the original Board president of SFI, and private foundations has enabled all the community evolves and human enterprise remembers suggesting that the organization partners to fund our outreach eff orts and changes, SFI will respond to the needs of fi nd a way to fund these scholarships. “I promote our work. Quarterly radio shows the forest and river, so future generations believe we were among the fi rst, if not the on our local community radio station, will feel part of the interconnection of fi rst and only environmental organization KMUD, have been a wonderful means of nature and be able to enjoy healthy lives to off er scholarships. I had no personal sharing what we do with our partners and in this amazing part of the world. experience with how to go about this, so the greater community. Trees Foundation’s made some inquiries and was told ‘fi nd Forest & River News, Mattole Watershed a For more information: the money and you can give a scholarship.’ News and other publications are also tools www.sanctuaryforest.org

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