Eternally Wild, the CalTrout and Keith Brauneis Productions film, recently premiered as one of the official selections of the 2016 Wild & Scenic Film Festival.
Now it’s your turn to enjoy.
We’re pleased to share with you the story of the iconic Smith River, a salmon and steelhead stronghold, its history and its current plight.
Here there are no dams, no wretched clear-cut blocks, no mitigating hatcheries. Instead… ancient forest, iconic redwoods and a powerful symbol of freedom — THE SMITH.
But 4,000 acres of the pristine North Fork are threatened by a giant toxic nickel mine operation.
The Red Flat Nickel Corporation has applied to sink 59 drill holes that would pave the way for one of the largest nickel mines in the Western United States. The film examines current conditions, discusses future threats and asks just how much protection is enough?
UPDATE: In January 2015, members of Congress introduced legislation to permanently protect the North Fork Smith Watershed and other public lands from mining through the Southwest Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act of 2015. If enacted, the bill would put a “mineral withdrawal” in place, meaning that no new mining activities would take place for a five year period.
The proposed withdrawal has overwhelming public support, support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and support from members of Congress. The Legislators who proposed the withdrawal, Senator Ron Wyden [D-OR], Senator Jeff Merkley [D-OR], Representative Peter DeFazio [D-OR] and Representative Jared Huffman [D–CA], are currently urging the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to not only ensure the completion of the withdrawal process during the current Obama Administration but to also withdraw the area for 20 years in addition to the 5 years initially proposed. Meaning no new mines on these lands for 25 years.
Since the Red Flat Nickel Mine has existing claims, this mineral withdrawal would not impact it’s ability to move forward. However, progress is being made on other fronts to prevent Red Flat Nickel from moving forward.
We will continue to monitor the issue and post updates as they develop.
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Thank you for your interest in the Eel River Forum! We looking forward to sharing meeting updates and other info from the Eel River watershed with you as they develop.
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Thank you for your interest in Big Chico Creek and the Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project! We looking forward to sharing project updates, news, and stories with you from the Big Chico Creek watershed as they develop.
Thank you for your interest in Big Chico Creek and the Iron Canyon Fish Passage Project! One of our staff members will do their best to get back to you as soon as possible. However, please note that due to limited capacity we may not be able to respond to all questions or fulfill all requests.
Let us know if you are interested in volunteering and we will get in contact with you as soon as we can.
Thank you for your interest in the Elk River! One of our North Coast Region staff members will do their best to get back to you as soon as possible. However, please note that due to limited capacity we may not be able to respond to all questions or fulfill all requests.
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.