“For a river system to remain healthy, it needs to stay in the watershed where it is birthed.” Friends of the Eel River
The Eel River is California’s third largest watershed and was once the third largest producer of salmon, and second largest producer of steelhead in the state. It contributed to what was a billion dollar a year salmon industry in California that is now moribund due to mismanagement of water resources. The Eel River was considered a world-class fishery, but now sports fishing and its economic contribution to the region is virtually nonexistent. This fishery was the first to fail on the north coast, before the Klamath and before the Sacramento River. The Eel River’s headwaters are dammed and diverted to the Russian River, taking more than half of this cold, clean water so necessary for a healthy fishery to mask the problems on the Russian River. Its dams are now a century old; blocking spawning and rearing habitat so necessary to this once vital fishery and holding back much needed gravels for a fully operative river system.
The Eel River has received both State (1972) and Federal (1981) Wild and Scenic River designation, a title which is to protect the river from dams and ensure that environmental concerns rank equally with development and industry. However, Eel River water, fish, and ecosystem have been, and continue to be, consistently violated and exploited.
Friends of the Eel River (FOER), have been working for 16 years to correct and stop the abuse that has lead to the near-collapse of the Eel River; a nearly 4,000 square mile watershed in northern California. Rivers and watersheds respond and heal when humans stop destructive practices. Please help FOER heal the Eel by joining our efforts to remove two antiquated dams and close a water diversion tunnel owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) that supplies water to the Russian River via their Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project (PVP). The 9 mega watts of power this project produces for less then half the year, is not cost effective and is destructive to both fish and a once healthy watershed. This is truly an unsustainable water delivery system in the guise of a power plant.
About Friends of the Eel River
Friends of the Eel River (FOER), was founded in 1994 and has been acknowledged and praised for its devotion to the monitoring, defense and advocacy of the Eel River watershed. Through the education and support of residents, businesses and visitors in this third largest watershed in California, FOER has become a formidable challenger of large corporations and public agencies in the interest of preserving California’s North Coast public trust resources. FOER is supported by over 2500 members, a solid volunteer base, a large contingent of scientists and fisheries experts, sport fishing alliances, river enthusiasts, and concerned citizens who are working together to meet the challenges to the Eel River’s watershed integrity.
In addition to many legal interventions and victories on behalf of the Eel River , FOER has allied with advocates of the Russian River watershed to address the damages caused by the Eel River ’s diversion to the Russian River ; specifically the high flows that are threatening the State and federally listed Russian River ’s endangered species of salmon and steelhead. Through this alliance, Friends of the Eel highlights the need for bioregions to work together for the benefit of watershed integrity. Healthy forests, soils, fish, wildlife, air, and rivers are all of our concern and legacy. For more information visit www.eelriver.org
Legal Action against the State of California Water Resources Board Taken by Friends of the Eel River
FOER filed legal action on March 1, 2010, against the State of California Water Resources Board (SWRCB), challenging that PG&E’s use of Eel River water, for an inefficient source of power generation, is not a reasonable use of the water, and therefore violates public trust resources in both the Eel and Russian Rivers, including threatened and endangered Coho and Chinook salmon and steelhead. We must act quickly as the fish are on the verge of total collapse. We would like to work with PG&E and SWRCB to restore this extraordinary jewel of the public trust. The legal petition, protest, and exhibits, can be found at: http://eelriver.org/news_updates.php
Please send your support for the action taken by Friends of the Eel River to:
State Water Resources Control Board
Attn: Vicky Whitney
P.O. Box 100
Sacramento, CA 95812-0100
www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/
Peter Darbee, CEO
Pacific Gas and Electric
One Market, Spear Tower
San Francisco, CA 94105-1126
415-267-7000
