2018 Annual Report Out
With all of the turmoil and bad news for our environment (and democracy) these days, it is absolutely critical that we also acknowledge and celebrate the good. Thus, we hope that you too can find some inspiration in our recent accomplishments.
2018 was a truly momentous year for Eel River advocates. Together, we saw – and seized – opportunities to spur major progress for watershed recovery. PG&E finally acknowledged that the Eel River dams were more liability than asset and started a process that dramatically increases the opportunity for dam removal. Legislation was passed to end the North Coast Railroad Authority’s long history of harm to the Eel River and begin an exciting rails-to-trails transition for its 300-mile-long right-of-way. The start of California’s legal recreational cannabis industry was a wild roller coaster ride for just about everyone involved – and a telling reminder of the environmental and economic perils of boom and bust industries. Devastating wildfires – almost certainly exacerbated by climate change, also reminded us of the criticality of preparing for fire in such fire-forged ecosystems. And a number of Eel River estuary restoration projects began bearing fruit.
Friends of the Eel River is proud to have played an influential role in advancing real solutions for Eel River watershed health and fisheries recovery. These are pivotal – and exciting – times for ensuring a more sustainable future for our region, and we take our obligation to bring about this positive change seriously. The work that we did in 2018 has set the stage for even bigger and better things in the coming years.
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