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Sky News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
'It's incredible': Seized ancestral homelands handed back to Yurok Tribe in California
Roughly 73 square miles of ancestral homelands have been returned to the Yurok Tribe in California. The move is what is known as a "land-back" deal - where homelands are returned to indigenous people through ownership or co-stewardship. The land-back conservation project along the Klamath River, a partnership between the Yurok Tribe and the Western Rivers Conservancy, is being called the largest in state history. The Yurok Tribe had 90% of its territory taken during the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s, suffering massacres and disease from settlers. For more than a century, the land was then owned and managed by timber companies - severing the tribe's access to its homelands. However, over 73 square miles of land along Blue Creek stream and the eastern side of the lower Klamath River in northern California will now be permanently managed by the Yurok Tribe for fish, wildlife and forest health within the newly-created Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest. Western Rivers Conservancy and the Yurok Tribe established a long-term partnership in 2009 to buy 47,097 acres along the lower Klamath and Blue Creek from Green Diamond Resource Company. It has cost the partnership $56million (£41m). The deal to hand back the land comes amid mounting recognition that indigenous people's traditional knowledge is critical to addressing climate change. Studies found the healthiest, most biodiverse and resilient forests are on protected native lands where indigenous people remained stewards. The tribe's plans include reintroducing fire as a forest management tool, clearing lands for prairie restoration, removing invasive species and planting trees while providing work for some of the tribe's more than 5,000 members and helping restore salmon and wildlife. The area is home to many creatures, including northern spotted owls, elk, deer and mountain lions. Galen Schuler, a vice president at Green Diamond Resource Company, the previous land owner, said the forests were sustainably managed by the firm when it managed them. Over the last decade, nearly 4,700 square miles (12,173 square kilometers) were returned to tribes in 15 states through a federal program. Barry McCovey Jr, whose ancestors were members of the Yurok Tribe, was involved in the effort to get the land returned to the tribe and said: "Snorkelling Blue Creek ... I felt the significance of that place to myself and to our people, and I knew then that we had to do whatever we could to try and get that back." Mr McCovey Jr, who is director of the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department, would have to sneak through metal gates and hide from security guards in order to fish in the Blue Creek stream connected to the Klamath River. He said: "To go from when I was a kid and 20 years ago even, from being afraid to go out there to having it be back in tribal hands … is incredible." The tribe aims to restore the historic prairies, but members know it's going to take decades of work for the lands and waterways to heal. "And maybe all that's not going to be done in my lifetime," said Mr McCovey Jr. "But that's fine, because I'm not doing this for myself."
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
California's largest ‘land-back' deal returns 47,000 acres to tribe
Blue Creek once stood as a hub in the Indigenous world. And it will again. Spilling from the Siskiyou Mountains in California's far north, the tributary of the Klamath River inhabits a hardy landscape of elk and bear, redwood forest and even-to-this-day plentiful salmon. The Yurok people historically lived, gathered and worshiped there. Last week, in what appears to be the largest 'land back' deal in state history, the Yurok Tribe completed acquisition of 47,000 acres around the Blue Creek watershed, finalizing the return of this vast ancestral stretch to Native American oversight. The property was conveyed in phases by Portland-based Western Rivers Conservancy. The final transfer last week, about 15,000 acres, follows a two-decade push by the tribe and the conservation group to secure protection of the cherished land in the lower Klamath Basin. The campaign raised $56 million, from a variety of public and private sources, to purchase properties previously owned and heavily logged by the Green Diamond Resource Company. 'To have this land back, it's a beautiful day and a beautiful milestone in the lives of the Yurok people,' Joseph L. James, chairman of the Yurok Tribe, told the Chronicle. 'This is a place of beauty. It's a place of well-being. It's a place of balance. It's who we are.' The Yurok is California's largest tribe. It counts more than 5,000 members who reside largely on or near the Yurok reservation, which is based in the community of Klamath (Del Norte County) near Redwood National and State Parks. The tribe operates a small casino, restaurant and hotel. At one time, the Yurok people lived in villages across much of northwestern California. Unlike most Native Americans who were ousted by European settlers, the Yurok have always remained on a portion of their historical lands. With the 47,000-acre acquisition, which abuts their reservation and includes miles and miles of waterfront along both Blue Creek and the Klamath River, the tribe's holdings in modern times have doubled. 'The drainage is not just important to the natural resource, but it's a place of high prayer for us,' James said. The tribal chairman, who grew up in a small community along the Klamath River just a 20-minute boat ride from Blue Creek, said he and other tribal members would float to the creek's sometimes turquoise waters to seek spiritual clarity and give thanks. 'I like to say, 'There's no such thing as a bad day traveling on the river,'' he said. 'It opens you up in a good way.' The Yurok Tribe is already managing most of the recently acquired property as a 'community forest.' There, it does sustainable logging and forest restoration. After a century of industrial timber harvests on the land, tribal members are trying to create a healthier environment by removing old logging roads and nursing back redwoods, mixed conifer forests and native grasslands. Most of the roughly 15,000 acres that was acquired last week will be managed as a protected 'salmon sanctuary.' Located at the lower reaches of Blue Creek, the area is a key cold-water refuge for anadromous fish starting their journeys up the Klamath River. The creek is about 16 miles upriver from the Pacific. With last year's completion of a major dam-removal project on the Klamath River, nearly 200 miles upstream, Blue Creek has taken on heightened significance. Migrating salmon and steelhead will benefit from any extra rest and nourishment they might get at the creek to sustain them for the potentially longer trek to the newly un-dammed river habitat. 'Dam removal is inspiring and great and exceptionally important,' said Nelson Mathews, president of Western Rivers Conservancy. 'To get up past the dams, the fish need cold water. That's why this (protection of Blue Creek) is critical.' Western Rivers Conservancy, alongside the Yurok Tribe, began discussing a potential land deal with Green Diamond Resource Company in the 2000s. Between 2009 and 2017, the organization bought pieces of the company's property, all of which were ultimately transferred to the tribe. In addition to direct funding from the state and private donors, Western Rivers Conservancy raised money from carbon credits, in which companies pay to offset their pollution, and the federal New Markets Tax Credit program, in which corporations get tax breaks for making community investments. 'Our core mission is conservation: It's protecting the rivers and streams,' Matthews said. 'Tribes have been a natural partner for us. … The Yurok Tribe has the resources and the deep cultural connections that sustained this land for millennia, and now they can continue to do so.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Gravel Pit Fire arsonist headed to Deer Lodge
Mar. 28—A transient man originally from New Jersey who pleaded guilty to starting the Gravel Pit Fire south of Libby in 2023 is headed to Deer Lodge. Joseph Anthony Eutsler, 41, entered his plea Jan. 9 in Lincoln County District Court and was sentenced to 20 years, with 10 suspended by District Judge Matt Cuffe. He first pleaded not guilty to the charges in August 2023. Cuffe followed the terms of the plea deal that called for Eutsler to receive a 20-year sentence, with 10 suspended, in the Montana State Prison. He will receive credit for 602 days he has served in the county jail. The public defender fee of $800 was waived and Cuffe determined Eutsler had no ability to pay restitution. It is expected there will be restitution due because the 300-acre fire burned trees on timberlands belonging to Green Diamond Resource Company. Eutsler was ruled fit to stand trial in the summer of 2024 after doctors from the Montana State Hospital, Dr. James P. Murphy and Dr. Daniel Bemporad, evaluated him and determined he was fit and able to proceed. Eutsler is being held on $250,000 bail in the county jail. According to charging documents, Eutsler previously lived in Williamstown, New Jersey. But he was described as living in his van at the time of the offense. According to the probable cause statement by county Sheriff's Office Deputy Anthony Jenson, Eutsler was arrested on the evening of Aug. 1 at the gravel pit located near Silver Butte Road after a woman called 911 at about 6:22 p.m. to report the fire near mile marker 60. Fisher River Valley Fire Rescue responded to the scene and found the man who started the fire at the scene. Captain Boyd White and Jenson responded and spoke with Eutsler. He told them his vehicle had broken down and he had been parked in the gravel pit for about two days. The defendant said a marked patrol car had driven past and he tried to wave for the officer to stop, but the car continued to drive, according to Jenson's statement. Eutsler allegedly said he was upset and started the fire to create a signal to force law enforcement to come. Jenson reported seeing singed hair on Eutsler's right arm and Capt. White found a bottle of lighter fluid next to an open door of the defendant's van. It was also reported that Eutsler had a lighter in his pocket. The officers also reported that when they arrived the fire had grown to an estimated five acres and damaged timber and property belonging to Green Diamond. Within two hours the fire grew to about 50 acres and was heading in a northeast direction where there are numerous residences along the highway. The 304-acre fire was contained later in August. The cost of the blaze was estimated between $1.5 and $2 million. Eutsler faced a sentence of up to 20 years in the Montana State Prison.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State continues work to protect wild lands in Northwest Montana
Feb. 21—State wildlife officials are continuing their efforts to protect wild lands from development in northwest Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public input on a potential project that would place nearly 53,000 acres of private timberland in northwest Montana under a conservation easement and protect working lands, public recreation access and wildlife habitat. FWP has published a draft environmental assessment that outlines the proposed second phase of the project named the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement. This is the second of a two-phased project totaling 85,752 acres of private timberland and fish and wildlife habitat owned by Green Diamond Resource Company. The first phase of the project, covering nearly 33,000 with a conservation easement, was approved by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission and Montana Land Board Dec. 16, 2024, and closed in February 2025. FWP is hosting a public informational meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 at the FWP regional office in Kalispell, 490 N. Meridian. The public is invited to attend and ask questions about the project. The deadline to comment on this proposal is 5 p.m. Saturday, March 15. To comment and learn more, visit The timeline includes a recommended decision to the state Fish and Wildlife Commission by April 24. A review of the project by the FWP Fish & Wildlife Commission is scheduled June 19 and a state Land Board Review of the project and decision is set for Aug. 18. "Conservation easements are not us buying the land," Tabish said. "This would still be in private ownership. They would still pay property taxes. They'll still be able to do forestry work." "It basically allows them to keep owning the land and keep doing what they're doing on it," he added. "But it precludes development, so it can't be subdivided or anything like that." The new easement would encompass forestlands in the Cabinet Mountains between Kalispell and Libby. The private property provides abundant public hunting and angling opportunities that would be permanently secured under this proposal. The property elevation ranges from about 3,000 feet near Cow Creek to 6,700 feet near Meadow Peak. It consists primarily of Douglas-fir and mixed conifer stands interspersed with long valleys and wet meadows. Dry ponderosa pine stands are found at low elevation sites and on south-facing slopes, while shade-tolerant trees such as grand fir and subalpine fir are found on cool north-facing slopes and at higher elevation sties. Engelmann spruce and western red cedar are typically found along streams in riparian habitat. Major drainages in the project area include the Pleasant Valley Fisher River, Barnum Creek, Lang Creek, McKillop Creek and Wolf Creek. This project would conserve wildlife winter range and a movement corridor for 100 to 150 elk, 400 to 450 mule deer, 800 to 900 white-tailed deer and 20 to 40 moose. It would provide critical habitat for federally threatened species found on or near the property including bull trout, grizzly bear, Canada lynx, and wolverine as well as protect streams for westslope cutthroat trout and Columbia River redband trout, both species of concern in Montana. Other species of concern that use the area include hoary bat and northern goshawk. In addition, the property also provides a key connectivity corridor for grizzly bears traveling between the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) and the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem (CYE), which are designated grizzly bear recovery zones. If the project were approved, Green Diamond would maintain ownership of the land under an easement owned by FWP. The easement would allow Green Diamond to sustainably harvest wood products from these timberlands, preclude development, protect important wildlife habitat and associated key landscape connectivity, and provide permanent free public access to the easement lands. The affected property has historically been owned by mining companies, timber companies and individual landowners. These owners have often allowed the public to access the property under short-term block management agreements or voluntary open land policies. Hunters and anglers have used these de facto public lands for generations and the property currently provides approximately 9,500 days per year of public hunting and angling use. In 2019, Weyerhaeuser sold all 630,000 acres of its Montana lands to Southern Pine Plantations (SPP). In 2021 and 2022, SPP sold 475,000 acres of its Montana lands to multiple landowners. Green Diamond made the largest purchase of SPP lands at 291,000 acres, including all the lands located within the footprint of Phases 1 and 2 of the proposed Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement. The appraised value of the second phase of the proposed Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement is $57.5 million. If this proposal were to proceed, the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program would provide $35.8 million while $1.5 million would come from the Habitat Montana program and $200,000 from the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust. Landowner Green Diamond would provide an in-kind contribution of about $20 million in the form of donated land value arising from the sale of the easement.
