Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it

Gualala River mouth, with Bald Eagles on the right side. Jan. 30, 2023. Photo by Rick Denniston. Here’s a close-up of the mated pair of Bald Eagles on the sand spit > close-up of the mated pair of Bald Eagles on the sand spit

Photo of the mouth of the Gualala River on January 5, 2023. At that moment, the sand spit appeared to be the loser! Mouth of the Gualala River on January 5, 2023

Family: PINACEAE In many countries around the world, an evergreen tree is the symbol of the yule tide season, representing the spirit of hope in the deepest dark of winter. Among the species of conifers chosen as Christmas trees, grand fir stands out. Its lustrous dark green needles, citrus-like fragrance, and beautiful conical shape lend it an elegance that few …

Dear Friends of Gualala River, We at FoGR have been enjoying this string of rainy days this last week of 2022. They are an absolute blessing, providing much-needed nourishment for the river and all the species that call it home. I am excited to introduce myself as the newest president of our organization. I have been involved with FoGR for …

Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) is an all-volunteer organization, so your donations are used expressly to help with our mission to protect the Gualala River, its watershed, and the plants and animals that live there. As you will read in our President’s message, we have had some legal setbacks. That said, in preparing for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) lawsuit, …

Friends of Gualala River invite coastal residents and visitors to visit our website and explore microclimates and wildfire camera views on our new Map of Real-time Weather Stations & Wildfire Cameras in the Gualala River Watershed: gualalariver.org/weather-wildfire. Click on the diamond icons to see individual weather station data including temperature, wind, rainfall and humidity. The stations are maintained by a …

In September, the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy (RCLC) unveiled the Conservation Plan for the Mill Bend Preserve at a public meeting and celebration. This was a major achievement and the result of two years of collaboration between the environmental consultant, Prunuske Chatham, Inc., and a dedicated Working Group of RCLC individuals that included FoGR representation. The Abstract to the Conservation …

Friends of Gualala River is collaborating with The Stream Team and Redwood Coast Land Conservancy in a citizen science water quality monitoring project at the Gualala estuary. The Stream Team is a collective of volunteers from Chico led by Timmarie Hammill. The Team comes to the area for quarterly monitoring and training of volunteers in basic water quality monitoring techniques. …

A local redwood logging project disturbs the quiet — and why these forests deserve better. by Robin Applegarth, Dec. 4, 2022 Reprinted by permission Coastal redwoods treetops, photo by Robin Applegarth SOMETIMES ONE HAS TO BEAR WITNESS when a situation seems impossible to stop.   So, I found myself sitting on a stump in the forest this month, listening to the …

Redwood Coast Land Conservancy and Friends of Gualala River are partnering with The Stream Team in this volunteer, community-based project. For more info: Gualala River Stream Team Stewardship Project – Introduction

Sponsored by Redwood Coast Land Conservancy

Sculptor Dustin Gaer-Smith receives the Environmental Art Award sponsored by Friends of Gualala River at the 2022 Art in the Redwoods Fine Arts Exhibit Coho Crowd Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) sponsored an award at the Art in the Redwoods Festival in 2022, for the twenty-first year in a row. A cash prize contributed by FoGR was given to the …

Redwood Coast Land Conservancy and Friends of Gualala River are partnering with The Stream Team in this volunteer, community-based project. For more info: Gualala River Stream Team Stewardship Project – Introduction

by Tom Wheeler, Executive Director Environmental Protection Information Center July 18, 2022 EPIC has unearthed documents through a Public Records Act request that show that CAL FIRE has been secretly editing questions submitted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on timber harvest plans submitted for the Jackson Demonstration State Forest, which is managed by CAL FIRE, as well …

The Coastal Commission recently awarded a Whale Tail Grant to the CA Urban Streams Alliance – The Stream Team. The grant is to initiate a stewardship engagement and watershed monitoring effort for the impaired, lower reach of the Gualala River and estuary, a habitat for endangered species such as young Coho salmon and steelhead. Redwood Coast Land Conservancy (RCLC) and …

The mouth of the Gualala River opened today, April 15, 2022, after several inches of rain. Note the bald eagle standing on the beach watching the river flow into the ocean, taking steelhead out to sea. Gualala River mouth opens, bald eagle stands watching; photo by Rozanne Rapozo Gualala River mouth opens, bald eagle stands watching; photo by Rozanne Rapozo

Adult Steelhead in the Gualala River lagoon, April, 2022. Photo by Rozanne Rapozo “There was a school of about 5-6 but my lens was too long to get them all in one photograph! No wind that day made for calm (and very clear) water.” – Rozanne Rapozo School of Steelhead in the Gualala River lagoon, April, 2022. Photo by Chris …

Floater freshwater mussel A live freshwater mussel was spotted in the Gualala River this month (March, 2022). Their shells have been seen in the river in some years, but only occasionally. This time a live one was found with its foot out, stranded in a pool off-channel. It’s a floater mussel, genus Anodonta. Species in flux right now – named …

“Broken Top” An Art Exhibit by Local Artist and Naturalist, Liam Ericson Saturday-Sunday, March 19-20, 12-4 pm Birdsong Clinic and Tea Room The Sea Ranch Center, Verdant View off Annapolis Road For years, Annapolis resident, Liam Ericson, has explored the wilds of the Gualala River watershed, seeking out old growth redwood trees to photograph and document. The trees and the …

Any way you slice it, 2021 was a tough year.  While Covid-19 raged across the world, a horrific drought brought the dangers of climate warming home to our watershed as we watched our beloved Gualala River dry up, leaving parched, bleached river beds.  Meanwhile, Gualala Redwood Timber (GRT) logged and logged and then logged some more from dawn til dusk …