The epic McCloud River runs approximately 50 miles from the spring-fed headwaters southeast of Mount Shasta into the Shasta Reservoir. Before Shasta Dam (completed in 1944) blocked the return of anadromous fish, the McCloud River was one of the most productive salmon and steelhead waters in the Sacramento Watershed. Home to the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, the river has served cultural, religious, and survival needs for thousands of years.
Our partners at American Rivers currently list the McCloud River at #7 on their list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers. “The [McCloud] river’s health and the [Winnemem Wintu] tribe’s cultural values are threatened by raising the height of Shasta Dam by 18.5 feet, which would drown vital habitat, riverside lands and numerous sacred sites”, according to American Rivers.
Calls to the Biden Administration to issue a ruling in favor of river protection are being made public. Chief Caleen Sisk, spiritual leader of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, explained in an opinion piece that the Biden administration should issue a final decision to prevent the Shasta Dam project because of tribal rights and environmental impacts.
As Chief Sisk points out, “Injustice to tribal people is not a distant memory. It is with us today – as visible as Shasta Dam. As demonstrated by George Floyd’s murderer and growing attacks on Asian Americans, our nation has a long way to go to ensure equal justice for all. Ensuring justice for Native Americans is another place where the United States can still live up to its values. ”
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Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.
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Save the McCloud River.
Reimagine Shasta Dam.