Video by David Lichtman, October, 2024, used with permission
Read More »The Latest from FoGR
Silva Ranch protected by Conservation Easement
Western Rivers Conservancy and the California Rangeland Trust successfully protected a critical stretch of the Wheatfield Fork Gualala River and a series of cold-water salmon and steelhead streams in Sonoma County, at the heart of wine country. The partners accomplished this by placing a conservation easement over the 4,440-acre Silva Ranch, an extraordinary California Coast Range property that contains a …
Read More »Copper Top logging plan on Old Stage Rd. Approved
The Copper Top timber harvest plan (THP 1-24-00103-MEN) was filed by Gualala Redwood Timber (GRT) on July 17, 2024. The plan calls for logging redwood and Douglas fir trees in 163 acres adjacent to Old Stage Road, just north of the Gualala Arts Center. Agency review team, chaired by CalFire, recommended plan approval on September 5, 2024. Public comment period …
Read More »Yellow-legged Frog in the Gualala River
Yellow-legged Frog in the Gualala River, photo by Amy Ruegg “Down by the Gualala River near the Hot Spot, we enjoyed seeing a variety of small aquatic creatures like water beetles, tiny fish, and a foothill yellow-legged frog! It was just a small one in the water blending in perfectly with the rocks. No more than an inch or so …
Read More »A look at the beautiful and full Gualala River Lagoon, as photographed by Anthony Cuesta
Gualala River Lagoon, June, 2024, photograph by Anthony Cuesta, reprinted with permission “When the sandbar stops much of the river water from entering the Pacific Ocean, the mouth of the river floods beautifully into its natural floodplain. Anthony Cuesta photographed the Gualala River from Gualala Point Regional Park, showing Mill Bend. You can see a portion of the Gualala River …
Read More »A Walk along the Wheatfield Fork
June 9, 2024 by a Friend of the Gualala River We walked the Wheatfield Fork of the Gualala River under the second twin bridge off Annapolis Road. What a beautiful and peaceful walk! We couldn’t photograph any birds as they were mostly in the canopy and quickly catching insects. However, we saw and heard the following: Black-headed grosbeak, red-breasted sapsucker, …
Read More »River Mouth Closed Today
Mouth of the Gualala River on June 6, 2024; photo courtesy of Efi Benjamin, River Bend Kayaks
Read More »Permit issued to replace failed retaining wall behind Surf Market
On May 16, 2024, the California Coastal Commission issued a permit to Bower Limited Partnership for replacement of the failed retaining wall behind the Surf Market and directly above the Gualala River estuary. The Surf Market building was built too close to the bluff edge in 1983, in violation of coastal development permit CDP No. NCR-80-P-75, which is why the …
Read More »Gualala River mouth is open – just barely
Mouth of the Gualala River on May 20, 2024; photo courtesy of Bob Rutemoeller
Read More »Saturday, May 18: Gualala River Stream Team Water Quality Monitoring Event
The Gualala River Stream Team will be kicking off the 3rd monitoring season tracking water quality conditions in the Gualala River and I hope you will join us! When: May 18, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. sharp! to 11:00 a.m. Where: Mill Bend, 46902 Old State Highway, Gualala, CA – turn right onto the gravel road 400 feet from Highway 1 (Running late? Meet …
Read More »“Steam Donkey” Logging Plan Adjacent to The Sea Ranch Approved
The Steam Donkey timber harvest plan (THP 1-23-00099-SON) was filed by Gualala Redwood Timber (GRT) on July 31, 2023. The plan calls for logging redwood and Douglas fir trees in 824 acres adjacent to The Sea Ranch. CalFire rejected the initial filing on August 10, after reviewers (from CalFire, Fish & Wildlife, Water Quality and CA. Geological Survey) identified 65 …
Read More »We stopped a logging plan in California, and you can too!
A presentation by Ethan Arutunian in February, 2024, hosted by the Forest Protection Forum of Sierra Club California’s Stop Clearcutting CA Campaign. In this talk, Ethan Arutunian describes how a grassroots campaign by Friends of the South Fork Gualala (FSFG) completely stopped the 283-acre Bootleg timber harvest plan (THP) in the Gualala River watershed. They defeated CALFIRE, and a wealthy …
Read More »Rainbow over Gualala after severe storm
Rainbow over the Town of Gualala, with the Gualala River estuary, after severe wind storm; February 7, 2024 Rainbow over the Town of Gualala after severe wind storm; February 7, 2024 Photos courtesy of Jeanne Jackson
Read More »Gualala River mouth after more heavy rain
Gualala River mouth after more heavy rain, February 3, 2024 Gualala River estuary and barrier beach, February 3, 2024 Photos courtesy of Jeanne Jackson
Read More »Drone shot of Gualala from over the Ocean
Taken on January 12, 2024 at the end of the king tide.Photo by Bonny Dunn, BonnyDunn.com reprinted with permission.
Read More »Gualala River mouth wide open after heavy rain
A beautiful photo of our favorite river, taken on the afternoon of January 3, 2024 by Chris Braley. Thanks to Chris Braley for this inspiring image.
Read More »There was drama where the Gualala River meets the turbulent Pacific Ocean!
After the storm on December 27, 2023, the Gualala River was running high and fast. The Pacific Ocean was roiled up with huge breakers and the river was full from the rains. Here’s a video of the action. See if you can spot the River Otter swimming in the raging river! Here’s what it looked like on Thursday morning, December …
Read More »Federal regulators reject controversial pumped storage project proposed for Sonoma Coast
by Mary Callahan, The Press Democrat, December 19, 2023 [excerpt:] Federal regulators have denied a requested preliminary permit for a highly controversial hydropower facility on coastal land near Fort Ross, all but shutting down a proposal that aroused anger and opposition throughout the region. In a six-page decision issued Tuesday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission noted a wide range of …
Read More »Rain falls, River rises, Mouth opens
Gualala River estuary, Dec. 20, 2023 Gualala River estuary – muddy water after ~6 inches of rain, Dec. 20, 2023 Gualala River breaches the barrier beach, Dec. 20, 2023 Gualala River flows to the sea, Dec. 20, 2023 Photos courtesy of Jeanne Jackson
Read More »‘Back where they belong’: Beavers released into California tribal waters in conservation effort
By Emma Hall, The Sacramento BeeDecember 14, 2023 [Excerpt:] One of the three yearling beaver kits casually floats in front of attendees while awaiting the rest of the family group to join him in exploring their new home in Plumas County, California on October 18, 2023. (CDFW Photo/Travis VanZant) For the first time in almost 75 years, beavers were released …
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Won’t back down – Friends of Gualala River continue protection efforts
by Tempra BoardThe Sea Ranch Soundings • Summer 2021 © copyright 2021, The Sea Ranch Associationreprinted with permission Friends of Gualala River (FoGR), our area’s grassroots watershed protection non-profit, continues its hard work defending the Gualala River from the threat of floodplain logging. On May 20, FoGR filed a motion for …
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Protecting Endangered Species:
The Case for a Preliminary Injunction -
Gualala River logging project clears hurdle in state court as federal case ramps up
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Under California cap-and-trade program, North Coast forests turn carbon uptake into cash
by Guy Kovner, The Press Democrat, January 3, 2016 [excerpt:] They say money doesn’t grow on trees, but a nearly 75,000-acre swath of redwood and fir forests blanketing the wildlands of Sonoma and Mendocino counties is generating millions of dollars as it contributes to California’s ambitious campaign to curb greenhouse …
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Preservation Ranch saved in record deal – June, 2013, San Francisco Chronicle
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Sonoma Deal Aims to Combine Logging and Preservation
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Sonoma County redwood forest spared from conversion into vineyards