Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

January 5, 2005 Leslie Markham California Department ofForestry and Fire Protection 135 RidgewayAve. Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Re:       THP 1-04-030 SONHansen-Whistler and associated conversion TCP 04-530 Dear Ms. Markham: I would like to submit these revised comments on theHansen/Whistler THP and Timberland Conversion THP 1-04-030 SON. The Friends ofthe Gualala River asked me to comment on this project this a …

In 2002, Friends of the Gualala River played a leading role in opposing a scheme to export water from the Gualala River to southern California in giant floating plastic “waterbags.” See a detailed account of our successful campaign to prevent the harm the waterbag scheme would have caused to our river and our community. Gualala River estuary in winter photo courtesy of …

The Gualala is considered an “impaired” river under the federal Clean Water Act because of excessive sediment and high temperatures, both of which can be lethal to salmon and steelhead. The excessive sediment and high temperatures are primarily the result of past logging practices. When trees are logged selectively, forest habitat is preserved, and the remaining trees hold the soil …

The ecosystems in the Gualala River watershed are under significant pressure. More than a century of logging operations has led to the buildup of sediment and gravel in the river bed, gradually destroying the river’s capability to support coho salmon, steelhead, and other indigenous species. Logging companies generally want forest to regenerate after harvesting timber, so habitat is eventually restored (after a verylong time). …

Location The Gualala River enters the Pacific Ocean approximately 110 miles north of San Francisco, California. Just past the mouth of the river lies the town of Gualala, a three-hour drive from San Francisco over narrow, twisting roads and stunning ocean and mountain views. Tourism and logging are the primary local industries. Land area The Gualala River watershed covers 298 …

To the Mayor of San Diego et al, April 2002   Mr. Dick Murphy 202 C Street San Diego, CA 92101 Dear Mr. Murphy, Two applications have been filed (31194 and 31195) with the State Water Resources Control Board to take 20,000 and 10,000 acre feet annually from the Gualala and Albion Rivers respectively, and tow this water in huge …

By Chris PoehlmannRecent local events could lend credence to the expression “water flows uphill to money”. Just when we thought we had seen everything as far as environmental threats to our river, two more contenders have surfaced. The wildest is an application with the California Division of Water Rights by an Alaskan based international company to get appropriative rights to …

by Tom Cochrane, President, Friends of the Gualala River, March, 2002 We live in a threatened world with limited natural resources and the concept of sustainability seems far from our grasp. Sustainability involves using our resources with as little harm to our environment as possible, but maintaining a healthy economy while still providing for equity among the potential users. Last …

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Friends of the Gualala River protects the Gualala River watershed in Northern California and the species living within it.

Información en Español Davidge withdraws waterbag applications!December 13, 2002: After the Coastal Commission votes to oppose his waterbag scheme, Ric Davidge announces that he is withdrawing his applications to bag water from the Gualala and Albion Rivers. For information about the campaign that stopped Davidge, and about his new proposal to export water from the Mad River, see below. Gualala …