On May 2 CalTrout hosted the Eel River Forum at the Benbow Village Hall along the South Fork Eel River, in the heart of the ‘Emerald Triangle’. The topic of the day was the regulation of water diversions and other policies for the now-legal cannabis industry, many of which were rolled out in 2018 with legalization of recreational marijuana use.
The Forum heard from environmental scientists with the three State Agencies who are responsible for the protection of public trust resources, as well as primary regulatory authority over the water diversion practices commonly used for cannabis irrigation – including springs, wells, and surface water diversions. Staff scientists from the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board were on hand to present updates on their individual agency policies and guidelines, and then help stakeholders identify the gaps that might exist where those policies overlap.
More than 30 people attended to hear the speaker presentations and participate in an engaging panel discussion. Key questions were posed for the group to discuss, such as:
Ultimately the Forum is working to find out if Eel River public trust resources are being protected, as cannabis cultivation becomes legal. The many issues that stakeholders are confronting include:
The Eel River Forum is led by CalTrout and comprised of 22 public agencies, tribes, non-profit conservation organizations, and other stakeholders. The Forum’s mission is to coordinate and integrate conservation and recovery efforts in the Eel River watershed to conserve its ecological resilience, restore its native fish populations, and protect other watershed beneficial uses. These actions are also intended to enhance the economic vitality and sustainability of human communities in the Eel River basin.
Join us in celebrating a half-century of taking action for California’s fish, water, and people.