The Latest from FoGR

Erasing redwoods forests and Native American history?

Erasing redwoods forests and Native American history? by Peter R. Schmidt, PhD As an early morning mist filters through the Redwoods in the village of Annapolis in NW Sonoma County, a Pomo elder of the Kashia band walks through the forest toward an ancient settlement site. The elder’s presence at this place is linked to a deep concern over ancestors …

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Gualala River: North Coast Stream Flow Campaign

Despite protections in our system of laws, rivers and streams on California’s north coast being progressively de-watered with disastrous impacts to fisheries, aquatic ecosystems, recreational opportunities and the regional economy. The North Coast Stream Flow Campaign is a movement to get water back in northern California rivers. Mighty rivers that once teamed with fish and provided countless hours of recreation …

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“Climbing Redwood Giants” on the National Geographic Channel

National Geographic EXPLORER Tuesday, September 29 at 10:00 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel “Climbing Redwood Giants” tells the story of the world’s tallest living trees. Humboldt State University’s Steve Sillett, the first researcher to explore the redwood canopy, is obsessed with monster redwoods. To say Sillett likes redwoods is like saying Edmund Hillary was keen on mountains or Jacques …

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Gualala River: Unauthorized diversion by
the North Gualala Water Company

Settlement Agreement between State Water Resources Control Board and North Gualala Water Company The Water Company will pay a fine of $11,600, avoid making new service connections until it has submitted a revised water supply contingency plan and a revised streamflow measurement plan, and petition for change in the existing bypass term or apply for additional water appropriation. The North …

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Rivers of a Lost Coast

A Documentary narrated by Tom Skerritt Rivers of a Lost Coast extended trailer Rivers of a Lost Coast is a new documentary that looks at our relationship to nature through the eyes of the most fabled angling community in American history. This surprisingly touching film was recently labeled a must see by the San Francisco Chronicle and Seattle Times. Monday, …

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2009 fundraising letter

Dear Friends and Neighbors, I’m writing to ask you to join our effort to protect the Gualala River and its wildlife by making a generous donation to Friends of the Gualala River (FoGR). Unfortunately, right now our watershed is facing imminent threats from several large-scale developments (details below). FoGR has assembled a scientific and legal team that is ready to …

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Gravel Mining in the Gualala River

Update, June, 2009: Sonoma County has issued a Notice of Determination for gravel extraction from 12 gravel bars in the South Fork and Wheatfield Fork of the Gualala River, installation of summer crossings to access the mining sites, processing gravel at a plant adjacent to the river, and maintenance of a diversion sump and the diversion of water from the …

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April showers bring May flows to the Gualala River

The low flow winter drought conditions that prevailed on the Gualala River were erased by late April rainfalls that scoured the gravel beds and flooded bars and floodplains. Aquatic wildlife that breed in well-oxygenated flowing water on coarse gravel and cobbles, like foothill yellow-legged frogs, got a reprieve. So did recreational users of the river. Whether this year will be …

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California’s Lost Salmon – KQED Quest

QUEST on KQED Public Media. Duration: 10:58 Original Air Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 Because of a sharp decline in their numbers, the entire salmon fishing season in the ocean off California and Oregon was canceled in both 2008 and 2009. At no other time in history has this salmon fishery been closed. The species in the most danger is …

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Protecting steelhead & coho:
new Gualala gravel mining permit

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 7:00 p.m. Gualala Community Center 47950 Center St., Gualala John McKeon, staff fish biologist with National Marine Fisheries Service, will discuss how steelhead and coho conservation occurs through the federal permit process – including its limitations and assumptions – using the Gualala River instream gravel mining permit as a recent example. John will provide background on …

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