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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Largest Ever Land Back-Conservation Deal in Calif. Now Complete: Western Rivers Conservancy Conveys Final Acreage to Yurok Tribe in a 47,000-Acre Effort Critical to the Salmon, Wildlife and Forests of the Klamath River
Totaling 73 square miles, Blue Creek project marks milestone for Klamath River and Tribal sovereignty, more than doubling Tribe's land holdings Blue Creek flows into the Klamath River. Photo: Peter Marbach/Western Rivers Conservancy KLAMATH, Calif., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC), the Yurok Tribe, the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) and the California State Coastal Conservancy (CSCC) announce completion of the largest single 'land back' deal in California history, marking a milestone achievement for conservation and Tribal sovereignty. The 73 square miles of land along the eastern side of the lower Klamath River are now owned and managed by the Yurok Tribe as the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest. (See map below.) Establishing Tribal ownership safeguards the long-term health of this critical ecosystem and culturally significant sites along the Klamath, which is home to one of the most important fall Chinook salmon runs on the West Coast. The conveyance of these lands to the Tribe has more than doubled the Tribe's land holdings; both California state agencies provided crucial funding to enable this transfer of ownership. 'On behalf of the Yurok people, I want to sincerely thank Western Rivers Conservancy for their longtime partnership and commitment to return a major part of our homeland. The impact of this project is enormous,' said Joseph L. James, the chairman of the Yurok Tribe. 'In working together for over two decades establishing the Community Forest and Salmon Sanctuary, we are forging a sustainable future for the fish, forests and our people that honors both ecological integrity and our cultural heritage.' The 47,097 acres of ancestral lands, located in the lower Klamath River watershed, play a crucial role in improving the health of Blue Creek, which carries great spiritual significance for the Yurok Tribe and is a crucial cold-water lifeline to the fish of the Klamath River. The forests, river lands and prairies they contain provide habitat for numerous imperiled species, including coho and Chinook salmon, marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl and Humboldt marten. Blue Creek serves as a vital cold-water refuge for salmon, steelhead and other fish in an era of climate change. Nelson Mathews, president of Western Rivers Conservancy, emphasized the broader environmental benefits of this achievement: 'This project exemplifies the power of partnership, showcasing how conservation efforts and the land back movement can come together to benefit the rivers, fish, wildlife and people of an entire landscape. After more than 20 years of close collaboration with the Yurok Tribe, we have together achieved this magnificent conservation success while ensuring these lands and waters are in the hands of those most deeply committed to their future health and sustainable use. Blue Creek and its watershed are critical to the health of the entire Klamath fishery. 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.'About the Blue Creek ProjectToday's announcement marks the completion of Western Rivers Conservancy's 23-year effort to convey 47,097 acres of critical lands along the Klamath River and encompassing the lower Blue Creek watershed, including their confluence, to the Yurok Tribe. From 2009 through 2017, WRC acquired or facilitated transfer of the lands from Green Diamond Resource Company in multiple phases; conveyance of the lands from WRC to the Yurok has happened in multiple phases as well. The conveyance of the final 14,968 acres from WRC to the Yurok Tribe closed on May 30, 2025. The historic 47,097-acre land transfer, at a purchase price of $56 million, encompasses the entire lower half of the Blue Creek watershed, 25 miles of the eastern bank of the Klamath River and dozens of miles of smaller salmon-bearing tributary streams, including Blue Creek, Bear Creek, Pecwan Creek and Ke'Pel Creek. The lands were owned and managed as commercial timberland by Green Diamond and its predecessor Simpson Logging Company for nearly 100 years. These lands are the ancestral homelands of the Yurok Tribe, who have lived along the Klamath River and depended on its salmon since time immemorial. This collaboration between a nonprofit conservation organization and a Native American Tribe reflects the growing intersectional movement between land back and environmental stewardship in the United States. To pay for the project, WRC pieced together an innovative funding strategy that brought together $56 million in private capital, low interest loans, tax credits and carbon credit sales. Of that, only $8 million was through direct public grants. The private funding included traditional sources, such as gifts from private foundations, corporations and philanthropic individuals, as well as nontraditional sources like the sale of carbon credits, which will continue to support the project, and capital generated through the New Markets Tax Credit program of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In addition to raising the funds to purchase the land, WRC will also transfer $3.3 million generated through the sale of carbon credits to the Yurok Tribe to be used for future stewardship of the property. When project costs are included, the full value of the Blue Creek conveyance is over $70 million. A New Salmon Sanctuary and Tribal Community ForestConveyance of the final lands from WRC to the Yurok Tribe completes the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary, a 14,790-acre cold-water refuge surrounded by forest lands that will now be managed for forest complexity and old-growth health for the benefit of the Klamath River's fish and wildlife. The entirety of Blue Creek is now permanently protected, from its headwaters and upper reaches in the Siskiyou Wilderness to its confluence with the Klamath River. Located 16 miles upstream from the mouth of the Klamath, Blue Creek provides the first cold-water refuge in the river for migrating salmon and steelhead, allowing summer and fall-run fish to lower their body temperatures enough to survive their long journey to upstream spawning grounds. Blue Creek is thus an essential component of the overall health of the Klamath River and the entirety of its salmon runs, especially as the removal of all the Klamath dams has reopened vast spawning habitat in the upper river. The other 32,307 acres of redwood and mixed conifer forest outside the Salmon Sanctuary now constitute the Yurok Tribal Community Forest. Already more than a decade in the making, the forest is being allowed to recover from nearly a century of industrial logging that left both the forest and the streams in need of extensive restoration. The Tribe's sustainable forestry practices are focused on putting the Yurok Community Forest on a path to become more diverse and mature by increasing the time between harvests. The Community Forest provides jobs for Tribal members in forestry and restoration, helping build the future for the Yurok people. It also helps mitigate the effects of climate change. Recent research has demonstrated that redwood forests can store more carbon per acre than any other type of forest and that second-growth (previously logged) redwood forests have the greatest potential to accumulate carbon even faster than old-growth trees. From 2013 until present, WRC worked in a formal co-management agreement with the Yurok Tribe to conduct the necessary planning and implementation for forest restoration and management, aquatic restoration, logging road removal and preparations for the final conveyance of land. This agreement served to build capacity and expertise for both WRC and the Yurok, as they collaborated to meet grant requirements, finalize the management plan and initiate on-the-ground restoration projects and chart the future of both the Salmon Sanctuary and the Community Forest. Western Rivers Conservancy and the Yurok Tribe's Shared Vision for Blue CreekWRC and the Yurok Tribe's shared vision has been to create a sustainable and inclusive model of land management that prioritizes Blue Creek and the Klamath River and honors both ecological integrity and cultural heritage. The project's outcomes benefit both land conservation and cultural repatriation. 'Everyone has a vested interest in seeing the Klamath salmon runs survive and thrive,' said WRC President Emerita and co-founder Sue Doroff, who launched the Blue Creek project and oversaw it until her retirement in June 2024. 'Millions of dollars and immeasurable human energy are being invested in the Klamath River right now. There are two things that are key to the success of this massive effort to save this river and its salmon: Blue Creek and the Yurok people. I am honored beyond words to have worked together with the Yurok to ensure the Klamath and its fish and wildlife will have a salmon sanctuary and cold water refuge where they need it most.' The Klamath River is in prolonged recovery from more than a century of logging, dams, gold mining and other human activities. In August 2024, the last three of four dams were removed from the upper Klamath River. Initiated by Klamath Basin tribes, the removal of these dams reopened more than 400 miles of salmon habitat in the upper river for the first time in over a century. 'The dams were the single biggest impediment to salmon production on the Klamath because they had such a negative influence on the river ecosystem. Through dam removal, protection and restoration of critical tributaries like Blue Creek and proper water management, we will restore the fish runs that sustained us and this entire region,' said Barry McCovey, director of the Yurok Fisheries Department, which employs nearly 100 scientists and technicians. Western Rivers Conservancy – A Leader in Land BackFor more than 30 years, WRC has taken the lead in marrying conservation and tribal land-return outcomes, working with tribal nations to permanently protect rivers and the lands that sustain them. WRC and its many tribal partners, who are the original stewards of riverlands across the West, make natural conservation partners given that tribal nations often possess the resources, foresight, expertise and commitment to restore and conserve these vital places in perpetuity. Most recently, WRC conveyed 327 acres of the Little Sur River and surrounding ancestral redwood forest to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County along California's central coast. A complete list and history of WRC's Tribal Nations partnerships are available here. Project FundingState funding and support for the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest was provided by the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), California State Coastal Conservancy (CSCC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program. 'Returning these lands to the Yurok Tribe is an unprecedented step forward for the Klamath River, and it comes at a critical moment following the removal of the Klamath River dams. Returning ancestral lands to Native American tribes is an essential step in restoring ecological balance and health,' said Jennifer Norris, executive director of the California Wildlife Conservation Board. 'WCB is proud to be part of this truly historic achievement, both for the Yurok people and as part of the broader effort to guarantee the long-term survival of the Klamath's salmon and the wildlife of Northern California.' 'Thanks to this incredible group of partners, the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest have become one of California's great conservation successes—one that will nurture tribal resilience for the Yurok people, improve conditions for the Klamath River's salmon and wildlife and carry forward the Coastal Conservancy's mission of improving climate resilience on the California Coast,' said Amy Hutzel, executive officer of the California State Coastal Conservancy. Additional support came from Compton Foundation, Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, George F. Jewett Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, Giles W. and Elise G. Mead Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/Acres for America and Walmart Stores, Inc., Natural Resources Conservation Service, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Land-Sea Connection program of Resources Legacy Fund made possible by the Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Weeden Foundation and The Wyss Foundation. Please visit the Klamath River/Blue Creek project web page for additional information on this historic achievement, including a complete list of project funders and funding details. Note to media: Hi-res images and b-roll are available here. *** The Yurok TribeWith more than 6,400 enrolled members, the Yurok Tribe is currently the largest Tribe in California. Yurok ancestral territory comprises 7.5 percent of the California coastline, extending from the Little River in Humboldt County to Damnation Creek in Del Norte County. The eastern boundary is the Klamath River's confluence with the Trinity River. The Tribe's more than 500 employees provide numerous services to the local community. The Tribe's major initiatives include holistic forest management, fisheries protection, restoration and management, Klamath dam removal, condor reintroduction, natural resources conservation, cultural preservation, sustainable economic development and land acquisition. More information at Western Rivers ConservancyWestern Rivers Conservancy's motto is 'Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it.' WRC purchases land along the West's finest rivers and streams to conserve habitat for fish and wildlife, protect key sources of cold water and create public access for all to enjoy. To ensure the lands it acquires are protected in perpetuity, WRC transfers them to long-term stewards such as federal, state and regional agencies and Tribal Nations. WRC has created sanctuaries for fish and wildlife and secured recreational access along 250 rivers and streams around the West. It has protected more than 440 river miles and over 225,000 acres of land in nine western states. Its approach to river conservation is effective, tangible and permanent. More information at Wildlife Conservation BoardThe Wildlife Conservation Board protects, restores and enhances California's spectacular natural resources for wildlife and for the public's use and enjoyment in partnership with conservation groups, government agencies and the people of California. Originally created within the California Department of Natural Resources and later placed with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, WCB is a separate and independent Board with authority and funding to carry out an acquisition and development program for wildlife conservation. More information at California State Coastal ConservancyThe Coastal Conservancy is a non-regulatory state agency that works with others along the California coast, in coastal watersheds, and in the San Francisco Bay Area to protect and restore coastal resources, to help people get to and enjoy the coast, and to enhance climate resilience. Our vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future Californians. More information at Media Contacts: Yurok Tribe - Matt Mais, (707) 954-0976, mmais@ Western Rivers Conservancy - Andie Davis, (415) 766-8355, WesternRivers@ Wildlife Conservation Board - Mark Topping, (916) 539-4673, Coastal Conservancy - Taylor Samuelson, (510) 286-4182, Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
San Francisco Chronicle
5 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
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Largest Ever Land Back-Conservation Deal in Calif. Now Complete: Western Rivers Conservancy Conveys Final Acreage to Yurok Tribe in a 47,000-Acre Effort Critical to the Salmon, Wildlife and Forests of the Klamath River
Totaling 73 square miles, Blue Creek project marks milestone for Klamath River and Tribal sovereignty, more than doubling Tribe's land holdings Blue Creek flows into the Klamath River. Photo: Peter Marbach/Western Rivers Conservancy KLAMATH, Calif., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC), the Yurok Tribe, the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) and the California State Coastal Conservancy (CSCC) announce completion of the largest single 'land back' deal in California history, marking a milestone achievement for conservation and Tribal sovereignty. The 73 square miles of land along the eastern side of the lower Klamath River are now owned and managed by the Yurok Tribe as the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest. (See map below.) Establishing Tribal ownership safeguards the long-term health of this critical ecosystem and culturally significant sites along the Klamath, which is home to one of the most important fall Chinook salmon runs on the West Coast. The conveyance of these lands to the Tribe has more than doubled the Tribe's land holdings; both California state agencies provided crucial funding to enable this transfer of ownership. 'On behalf of the Yurok people, I want to sincerely thank Western Rivers Conservancy for their longtime partnership and commitment to return a major part of our homeland. The impact of this project is enormous,' said Joseph L. James, the chairman of the Yurok Tribe. 'In working together for over two decades establishing the Community Forest and Salmon Sanctuary, we are forging a sustainable future for the fish, forests and our people that honors both ecological integrity and our cultural heritage.' The 47,097 acres of ancestral lands, located in the lower Klamath River watershed, play a crucial role in improving the health of Blue Creek, which carries great spiritual significance for the Yurok Tribe and is a crucial cold-water lifeline to the fish of the Klamath River. The forests, river lands and prairies they contain provide habitat for numerous imperiled species, including coho and Chinook salmon, marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl and Humboldt marten. Blue Creek serves as a vital cold-water refuge for salmon, steelhead and other fish in an era of climate change. Nelson Mathews, president of Western Rivers Conservancy, emphasized the broader environmental benefits of this achievement: 'This project exemplifies the power of partnership, showcasing how conservation efforts and the land back movement can come together to benefit the rivers, fish, wildlife and people of an entire landscape. After more than 20 years of close collaboration with the Yurok Tribe, we have together achieved this magnificent conservation success while ensuring these lands and waters are in the hands of those most deeply committed to their future health and sustainable use. Blue Creek and its watershed are critical to the health of the entire Klamath fishery. 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.'About the Blue Creek ProjectToday's announcement marks the completion of Western Rivers Conservancy's 23-year effort to convey 47,097 acres of critical lands along the Klamath River and encompassing the lower Blue Creek watershed, including their confluence, to the Yurok Tribe. From 2009 through 2017, WRC acquired or facilitated transfer of the lands from Green Diamond Resource Company in multiple phases; conveyance of the lands from WRC to the Yurok has happened in multiple phases as well. The conveyance of the final 14,968 acres from WRC to the Yurok Tribe closed on May 30, 2025. The historic 47,097-acre land transfer, at a purchase price of $56 million, encompasses the entire lower half of the Blue Creek watershed, 25 miles of the eastern bank of the Klamath River and dozens of miles of smaller salmon-bearing tributary streams, including Blue Creek, Bear Creek, Pecwan Creek and Ke'Pel Creek. The lands were owned and managed as commercial timberland by Green Diamond and its predecessor Simpson Logging Company for nearly 100 years. These lands are the ancestral homelands of the Yurok Tribe, who have lived along the Klamath River and depended on its salmon since time immemorial. This collaboration between a nonprofit conservation organization and a Native American Tribe reflects the growing intersectional movement between land back and environmental stewardship in the United States. To pay for the project, WRC pieced together an innovative funding strategy that brought together $56 million in private capital, low interest loans, tax credits and carbon credit sales. Of that, only $8 million was through direct public grants. The private funding included traditional sources, such as gifts from private foundations, corporations and philanthropic individuals, as well as nontraditional sources like the sale of carbon credits, which will continue to support the project, and capital generated through the New Markets Tax Credit program of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In addition to raising the funds to purchase the land, WRC will also transfer $3.3 million generated through the sale of carbon credits to the Yurok Tribe to be used for future stewardship of the property. When project costs are included, the full value of the Blue Creek conveyance is over $70 million. A New Salmon Sanctuary and Tribal Community ForestConveyance of the final lands from WRC to the Yurok Tribe completes the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary, a 14,790-acre cold-water refuge surrounded by forest lands that will now be managed for forest complexity and old-growth health for the benefit of the Klamath River's fish and wildlife. The entirety of Blue Creek is now permanently protected, from its headwaters and upper reaches in the Siskiyou Wilderness to its confluence with the Klamath River. Located 16 miles upstream from the mouth of the Klamath, Blue Creek provides the first cold-water refuge in the river for migrating salmon and steelhead, allowing summer and fall-run fish to lower their body temperatures enough to survive their long journey to upstream spawning grounds. Blue Creek is thus an essential component of the overall health of the Klamath River and the entirety of its salmon runs, especially as the removal of all the Klamath dams has reopened vast spawning habitat in the upper river. The other 32,307 acres of redwood and mixed conifer forest outside the Salmon Sanctuary now constitute the Yurok Tribal Community Forest. Already more than a decade in the making, the forest is being allowed to recover from nearly a century of industrial logging that left both the forest and the streams in need of extensive restoration. The Tribe's sustainable forestry practices are focused on putting the Yurok Community Forest on a path to become more diverse and mature by increasing the time between harvests. The Community Forest provides jobs for Tribal members in forestry and restoration, helping build the future for the Yurok people. It also helps mitigate the effects of climate change. Recent research has demonstrated that redwood forests can store more carbon per acre than any other type of forest and that second-growth (previously logged) redwood forests have the greatest potential to accumulate carbon even faster than old-growth trees. From 2013 until present, WRC worked in a formal co-management agreement with the Yurok Tribe to conduct the necessary planning and implementation for forest restoration and management, aquatic restoration, logging road removal and preparations for the final conveyance of land. This agreement served to build capacity and expertise for both WRC and the Yurok, as they collaborated to meet grant requirements, finalize the management plan and initiate on-the-ground restoration projects and chart the future of both the Salmon Sanctuary and the Community Forest. Western Rivers Conservancy and the Yurok Tribe's Shared Vision for Blue CreekWRC and the Yurok Tribe's shared vision has been to create a sustainable and inclusive model of land management that prioritizes Blue Creek and the Klamath River and honors both ecological integrity and cultural heritage. The project's outcomes benefit both land conservation and cultural repatriation. 'Everyone has a vested interest in seeing the Klamath salmon runs survive and thrive,' said WRC President Emerita and co-founder Sue Doroff, who launched the Blue Creek project and oversaw it until her retirement in June 2024. 'Millions of dollars and immeasurable human energy are being invested in the Klamath River right now. There are two things that are key to the success of this massive effort to save this river and its salmon: Blue Creek and the Yurok people. I am honored beyond words to have worked together with the Yurok to ensure the Klamath and its fish and wildlife will have a salmon sanctuary and cold water refuge where they need it most.' The Klamath River is in prolonged recovery from more than a century of logging, dams, gold mining and other human activities. In August 2024, the last three of four dams were removed from the upper Klamath River. Initiated by Klamath Basin tribes, the removal of these dams reopened more than 400 miles of salmon habitat in the upper river for the first time in over a century. 'The dams were the single biggest impediment to salmon production on the Klamath because they had such a negative influence on the river ecosystem. Through dam removal, protection and restoration of critical tributaries like Blue Creek and proper water management, we will restore the fish runs that sustained us and this entire region,' said Barry McCovey, director of the Yurok Fisheries Department, which employs nearly 100 scientists and technicians. Western Rivers Conservancy – A Leader in Land BackFor more than 30 years, WRC has taken the lead in marrying conservation and tribal land-return outcomes, working with tribal nations to permanently protect rivers and the lands that sustain them. WRC and its many tribal partners, who are the original stewards of riverlands across the West, make natural conservation partners given that tribal nations often possess the resources, foresight, expertise and commitment to restore and conserve these vital places in perpetuity. Most recently, WRC conveyed 327 acres of the Little Sur River and surrounding ancestral redwood forest to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County along California's central coast. A complete list and history of WRC's Tribal Nations partnerships are available here. Project FundingState funding and support for the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest was provided by the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), California State Coastal Conservancy (CSCC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program. 'Returning these lands to the Yurok Tribe is an unprecedented step forward for the Klamath River, and it comes at a critical moment following the removal of the Klamath River dams. Returning ancestral lands to Native American tribes is an essential step in restoring ecological balance and health,' said Jennifer Norris, executive director of the California Wildlife Conservation Board. 'WCB is proud to be part of this truly historic achievement, both for the Yurok people and as part of the broader effort to guarantee the long-term survival of the Klamath's salmon and the wildlife of Northern California.' 'Thanks to this incredible group of partners, the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest have become one of California's great conservation successes—one that will nurture tribal resilience for the Yurok people, improve conditions for the Klamath River's salmon and wildlife and carry forward the Coastal Conservancy's mission of improving climate resilience on the California Coast,' said Amy Hutzel, executive officer of the California State Coastal Conservancy. Additional support came from Compton Foundation, Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, George F. Jewett Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, Giles W. and Elise G. Mead Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/Acres for America and Walmart Stores, Inc., Natural Resources Conservation Service, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Land-Sea Connection program of Resources Legacy Fund made possible by the Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Weeden Foundation and The Wyss Foundation. Please visit the Klamath River/Blue Creek project web page for additional information on this historic achievement, including a complete list of project funders and funding details. Note to media: Hi-res images and b-roll are available here. *** The Yurok TribeWith more than 6,400 enrolled members, the Yurok Tribe is currently the largest Tribe in California. Yurok ancestral territory comprises 7.5 percent of the California coastline, extending from the Little River in Humboldt County to Damnation Creek in Del Norte County. The eastern boundary is the Klamath River's confluence with the Trinity River. The Tribe's more than 500 employees provide numerous services to the local community. The Tribe's major initiatives include holistic forest management, fisheries protection, restoration and management, Klamath dam removal, condor reintroduction, natural resources conservation, cultural preservation, sustainable economic development and land acquisition. More information at Western Rivers ConservancyWestern Rivers Conservancy's motto is 'Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it.' WRC purchases land along the West's finest rivers and streams to conserve habitat for fish and wildlife, protect key sources of cold water and create public access for all to enjoy. To ensure the lands it acquires are protected in perpetuity, WRC transfers them to long-term stewards such as federal, state and regional agencies and Tribal Nations. WRC has created sanctuaries for fish and wildlife and secured recreational access along 250 rivers and streams around the West. It has protected more than 440 river miles and over 225,000 acres of land in nine western states. Its approach to river conservation is effective, tangible and permanent. More information at Wildlife Conservation BoardThe Wildlife Conservation Board protects, restores and enhances California's spectacular natural resources for wildlife and for the public's use and enjoyment in partnership with conservation groups, government agencies and the people of California. Originally created within the California Department of Natural Resources and later placed with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, WCB is a separate and independent Board with authority and funding to carry out an acquisition and development program for wildlife conservation. More information at California State Coastal ConservancyThe Coastal Conservancy is a non-regulatory state agency that works with others along the California coast, in coastal watersheds, and in the San Francisco Bay Area to protect and restore coastal resources, to help people get to and enjoy the coast, and to enhance climate resilience. Our vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future Californians. More information at Media Contacts: Yurok Tribe - Matt Mais, (707) 954-0976, mmais@ Western Rivers Conservancy - Andie Davis, (415) 766-8355, WesternRivers@ Wildlife Conservation Board - Mark Topping, (916) 539-4673, Coastal Conservancy - Taylor Samuelson, (510) 286-4182, Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Report Shows Significant Socioeconomic Benefits of Large-scale Restoration Projects in Redwood National and State Parks Region
Redwoods Rising and 'O Rew have created jobs and economic opportunities plus lasting benefits for coast redwood forest health SAN FRANCISCO, CA / / April 3, 2025 / Tribal chairman Joseph L. James and Rosie Clayburn of the Yurok Tribe walk with Save the Redwoods League's Jessica Carter and Sam Hodder among native plants planted as part of a revegetation effort at 'O Rew. Photo by Evan-Marie Petit. A new report released today by Save the Redwoods League and California State Parks reveals significant socioeconomic benefits of the Redwoods Rising and 'O Rew Redwoods Gateway programs to Northern California counties around Redwood National and State Parks. These redwood ecosystem restoration programs bring much-needed revenue, quality jobs and critical environmental conservation benefits to the region, driving economic growth in an economically disadvantaged area of California. "Assessing the Restoration Economy within Redwood National and State Parks" examines new economic opportunities made possible by large-scale restoration programs in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. The report contrasts the growing restoration economy with the legacy of extraction-based industries in the region-namely the historic industrial-scale logging of coast redwood forests. "Together, Redwoods Rising and 'O Rew Redwoods Gateway restoration programs have brought far-reaching benefits to our forests, local communities and beyond," said Paul Ringgold, chief program officer for Save the Redwoods League. "Communities in Humboldt and Del Norte have experienced challenges following the decline of old-growth logging and fishing. This new report highlights how a restoration economy can provide stable, well-paying jobs that put valuable skills to work conserving redwood forests for future generations." Key report findings: Generating Economic Impacts: In 2024, Redwoods Rising and 'O Rew Redwoods Gateway restoration activities supported 200 jobs in the local economy. Many of these jobs were in industries related to tree harvesting and construction, which tend to pay higher wages than average jobs in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Since 2019, Redwoods Rising has raised $97.1 million to invest in restoration work locally. This includes state and federal grant funding, private philanthropy, financial returns from the restoration work itself and California State Parks funding. Local and regional contractors and vendors are prioritized for the program's implementation, ensuring that funds stay within the parks' gateway communities. More than 90% of contractor hours from key partners are filled by workers from Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Creating a Restoration Economy: Restoration activities broaden the economic focus of the area from industries like commercial logging and cannabis cultivation to a restoration economy that includes forest management, wildlife conservation and environmental restoration, which fosters stable employment with higher wages. Redwoods Rising is training a future workforce through its apprenticeship program, which has provided on-the-ground restoration training to over 70 college students. Redwoods Rising has integrated new technologies and practices into its work, creating higher-quality, higher-paying jobs that appeal to a broader workforce. Biomass removed from the forest during restoration work is processed and sold within the region for use as lumber, chips or biofuel. As a byproduct of this work to improve forest and watershed health, the revenue generated is reinvested in the program. The entire process of removing biomass-from crews to transportation to sawmills-represents additional economic activity through local jobs. From 2020 to 2023, biomass sales yielded $18.5 million that was reinvested to help offset the costs of forest restoration, the removal of old inaccessible logging roads and restoration of aquatic habitats. These sales also yielded $350,000 in Timber Yield Tax revenues returned to Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Tribal and Community Engagement: Redwoods Rising and 'O Rew Redwoods Gateway restoration work takes place in the ancestral lands of the Yurok, Tolowa and Chilula peoples. The programs engage tribal entities in restoration work and create employment opportunities in surrounding communities. Enhanced Ecosystem Health: Parks gateway communities benefit from the restoration efforts within Redwood National and State Parks in multiple ways: Watershed restoration and climate resilience work achieved by these programs benefit local communities through improved flood control and wildfire risk reduction. Improved ecosystems, such as healthy waterways and reconnected habitat, help create future recreational opportunities. Recreation and Tourism Benefits: In 2023 more than 400,000 people visited Redwood National Park, spending an estimated $29.6 million locally. As restoration makes possible new and improved recreational opportunities, increased park visitation would mean additional economic benefits. The 'O Rew trails gateway construction is set to begin this year and significant habitat improvements at the confluence of Prairie and Redwood creeks will provide a world-class experience for visitors. While restoration work is the immediate focus of Redwoods Rising, restoration site improvements are creating opportunities for expanded public access and new infrastructure. Read the full report at "Redwoods Rising is an ambitious restoration program that is bringing back the unique and wonderful coast redwood forest native to Northern California, and it serves as a model for public-private partnership-driven restoration," said Jay Chamberlin, chief of the Natural Resources Division for California State Parks. "With nearly $31 million in economic output in 2024 alone, the program demonstrates that conservation and economic vitality can go hand in hand." Funding for the socioeconomic study was provided by Redwood Parks Conservancy, the nonprofit partner supporting Redwood National and State Parks. "These restoration programs are examples of the power of partnerships focused on healing lands and waters collaboratively," said Sal Munoz Moreno, executive director of Redwood Parks Conservancy. "By celebrating and stewarding our public lands, we can also ensure the health and wellness of our local communities." About Redwoods Rising Redwoods Rising is a collaborative initiative among Save the Redwoods League, California State Parks and the National Park Service aimed at restoring the health and resilience of the iconic redwood forests in Redwood National and State Parks. It focuses on restoring 70,000 acres of degraded redwood forest landscapes heavily impacted by past industrial logging practices, with the goal of accelerating development of old-growth forest characteristics and protecting these unique ecosystems. Since 2018, the program has treated more than 4,200 acres of forest, removed or improved more than 70 miles of failing logging roads and restored nearly 6 miles of stream channels throughout the parks. About 'O Rew Redwoods Gateway 'O Rew is a 125-acre ecologically and culturally significant property adjacent to Redwood National and State Parks. Save the Redwoods League purchased it for conservation in 2013 following closure of the lumber mill that had operated onsite for decades. In 2026, the nonprofit will transfer ownership of the site to the Yurok Tribe. In a first of its kind agreement in 2024, the Yurok Tribe, the League, National Park Service and California State Parks signed a memorandum of understanding for the transfer as well as significant ecological restoration and to formalize the four partners' shared vision for long-term co-stewardship of the site as a gateway for the visiting public to the parks. The agreement marks the first time state and federal agencies will assist with stewardship and public access on tribally owned land. *** To schedule an interview, contact Robin Carr at 415-766-0927 or redwoods@ To access hi-res images or b-roll of Redwood National and State Parks, visit the Save the Redwoods League newsroom. Save the Redwoods League, one of the nation's longest-running conservation organizations, has been protecting and restoring redwood forests since 1918. The League has connected generations of visitors with the beauty and serenity of the redwood forests. Our 600,000 supporters have enabled the League to protect more than 220,000 acres of irreplaceable forests in 66 state, national and local parks and reserves. For information, please visit The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at ### Contact Details Landis Communications Carr+1 415-766-0927redwoods@ Company Website SOURCE: Save the Redwoods League View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
