Where a river meets the ocean, the estuary, is the place of its greatest biological productivity. But like many of Californias coastal rivers, the Eel Rivers estuary has lost many of its natural processes and diversity of habitats through the laying of levees and the draining of wetlands for agriculture. The Eel, California's third largest river system, once had one of the region's strongest fisheries, supporting habitat for coho and chinook salmon, steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout. Despite habitat loss, the Eel River delta is considered one of the most significant estuaries along the entire California Coast. Its mosaic of tidal flats, sloughs, marshes and seasonal wetlands supports hundreds of thousands of resident and migratory waterfowl.

Western Rivers Conservancy is bringing its land-buying expertise to a growing partnership to restore the Eel River by acquiring a large portion of its estuary along a lower tributary called the Salt River. In August 2007, WRC purchased Riverside Ranch, a 400-acre dairy farm with immediate restoration potential.

This project to restore the lower Eel River enjoys the support and involvement of a broad partnership including the California Department of Fish and Game, the California Coastal Conservancy, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Humboldt Resource Conservation District.

Once the property is acquired, WRC will likely transfer the land to the California Department of Fish and Game as a permanent conservation steward. Simple modifications to the levees and tidegates will restore the tidal influence to the lower Eel and Salt Rivers, rejuvenating historic freshwater wetland and salt marsh habitat. At the same time, upland portions of the property will continue to accommodate agricultural activities that are compatible with the restoration efforts. The result will be restored rearing habitats for salmon, cutthroat trout and the tidewater goby. Migrant and resident waterfowl and shorebirds, including the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Marbled godwit, will benefit from reestablished feeding and nesting sites. Moreover, this acquisition will catalyze other restoration projects in the basin in a larger effort to regain the Eels status as a great California salmon river.

Our work on the Eel River estuary is supported by grants from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Campbell Foundation, Heller Charitable and Educational Fund and the Dean Witter Foundation.

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