News

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 …

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

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.

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 …

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 …

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

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 …

December 12, 2023 Sonoma County Board of Supervisors 575 Administration Drive Room 100 A Santa Rosa, CA 95403 To the Honorable Members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors: Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) thanks you for the opportunity to comment once again upon the importance of passing the Oak Woodland Protection Ordinance. Our previous letter of November 21, 2023 …

November 21, 2023 Sonoma County Board of Supervisors 575 Administration Drive Room 100 A Santa Rosa, CA. 95403 To the Honorable Members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors: Friends of Gualala River thanks you for the opportunity to comment in support of the proposed Oak Woodland Protection Ordinance, a critically important step in saving our wild oaks, one of …

By John Reid, September 25, 2023 YaleEnvironment360 Published at the Yale School of the Environment [Excerpt:] Only 5 percent of the redwood forests that once stretched across coastal Northern California have never been logged. An initiative to restore these forests is gaining momentum, aided by research showing that redwoods store more aboveground carbon than any forest on Earth. Lyndon Johnson …

These have been busy times for Friends of Gualala River.  We’d like to update you on our activities involving litigation, advocacy, and education and outreach.  The brief reports below are linked to more in-depth information elsewhere on our website. Litigation and Advocacy Spring at the Gualala River lagoon; photo by Craig Tooley, reprinted with permission. FoGR Wins Fight to Enforce Legal …

Press release by Earthjustice, August 15, 2023 [excerpt] The Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR) and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) today notified U.S. tire manufacturers of their intent to sue over the use of a chemical called 6PPD in rubber tires because of its devastating impacts on Endangered Species Act (ESA)-protected salmon and steelhead. When 6PPD reacts …

Chris Grassano receives the Environmental Art Award sponsored by Friends of Gualala River at the 2023 Art in the Redwoods Fine Arts Festival Redwood Melody, by Chris Grassano Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) sponsored an award at the Art in the Redwoods Festival in 2023, for the twenty-second year in a row. A cash prize contributed by FoGR was given …

Spring at the Gualala River lagoonPhoto by Craig Tooley, reprinted with permission.