by Laura Baker, Board Member In 2020 FoGR learned of a chemical found in tire grit that pollutes stormwater and kills a number of different aquatic species. It is especially toxic to coho salmon— 40 parts per trillion in a quart of stormwater kills juvenile coho. Information has been pouring out of the State of Washington where the effects of …

By Jeanne Jackson, Treasurer We Would Love to Have Your Support For nearly 30 years FoGR has relied solely on the hard work of volunteers who donated their time for the day-to-day operation of our organization. As mentioned above, we’ve now hired a part-time staff person to carry out the work of the TMDL program, among other projects. That program …

Gualala River mouth after atmospheric river pours down rain for 36 hours, Nov. 21, 2024, photo by Thomas Wolbarst, used with permission. Note: When the river mouth is closed by the sandbar, the lower part of the river is called a lagoon. When the mouth is open to the ocean, it is called an estuary.

Gualala River lagoon after the rain, Nov. 15, 2024, photo by Jeanne Jackson, used with permission. Note: When the river mouth is closed by the sandbar, the lower part of the river is called a lagoon. When the mouth is open to the ocean, it is called an estuary.

Video by David Lichtman, October, 2024, used with permission

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

Mouth of the Gualala River on June 6, 2024; photo courtesy of Efi Benjamin, River Bend Kayaks

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 …

Mouth of the Gualala River on May 20, 2024; photo courtesy of Bob Rutemoeller

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

Gualala River mouth after more heavy rain, February 3, 2024 Gualala River estuary and barrier beach, February 3, 2024 Photos courtesy of Jeanne Jackson

Taken on January 12, 2024 at the end of the king tide.Photo by Bonny Dunn, BonnyDunn.com reprinted with permission.

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.