PROTECTING SALMON HABITAT AMID ANCIENT REDWOODS
California’s northern coastal region, which includes the unique redwood forest ecosystem, is home to a number of spectacular rivers, including the Gualala River. Originating from the rugged slopes of California’s coastal range, it is comprised of three main forks: the North Fork, South Fork, and Wheatfield Fork. Some of the southernmost populations of anadromous salmonids persist in the greater Gualala River watershed, though both the federally threatened Northern California winter-run steelhead and federally endangered Central California Coast coho salmon face dire threats. Historic logging practices, conversion of forestland to vineyards and residential development pose challenges for the watershed, which is almost entirely made up of private land.
Western Rivers Conservancy is working to conserve the 298-acre South Fork Gualala property, which lies along 1.2 miles of the South Fork Gualala River. This effort builds on our recent project on the Wheatfield Fork, where WRC conserved 4,440 acres of land spanning 6.6 miles of river and tributary streams in 2022.
RETURNING ANCESTRAL LANDS TO THE KASHIA BAND OF POMO INDIANS
The South Fork Gualala property is surrounded by rural residential tracts that are ubiquitous throughout the area thanks to the desirable coastal location. Acquisition by WRC will prevent conversion of this land to non-forest uses while complementing our recent conservation work within the watershed. Last harvested in the 1960s, the property’s upland habitat consists of mixed hardwood and conifer forest and retains medium age-class stands of redwoods and several old-growth trees that stand as living reminders of the forests that once blanketed the area. The 1.2 miles of the South Fork Gualala River that flow through the property are documented habitat for winter steelhead, with deep, shaded pools providing refuge for these fish as they migrate upstream to spawn. In addition to steelhead, this stretch of river is habitat for the Gualala Roach, an endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.
WRC’s goal is to purchase the South Fork Gualala property and convey it to the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, whose ancestral lands encompass this area. The Tribe plans to use both current forestry methods and Traditional Ecological Knowledge to restore nearly 300 acres of second growth redwoods to accelerate progress toward a mature forest. This will benefit the river and its fish by reducing sediment loads and water temperature, while improving habitat for a variety of aquatic and terrestrial species. The acquisition will also provide new opportunities for tribal members to reconnect with their ancestral territory and engage in traditional cultural activities on their own land. Given our shared conservation vision for the Gualala River, this is a partnership that will deliver critically important gains for the river system, its fish and wildlife and the people who call this place home.
