Prior to World War II, the 304-square-mile Mattole watershed was relatively pristine, supporting an abundance of adult salmon and steelhead. The post-war logging boom left only a fraction of the old-growth forest intact. The impacts on an inherently unstable landscape were magnified by over-harvesting at sea, as well as legal and illegal in-river fishing, resulting in a decrease of salmonid populations to less than 10% of historic levels. Citizens in the Mattole region formed MSG in 1980, the first watershed-wide, entirely citizen-run effort in the Pacific Northwest to begin restoring native salmon runs. By 1990, Mattole salmon runs had declined to levels that scientific experts believed were beneath the numbers necessary for recovery. However, the Mattole Salmon Group has not given up.


Over the years MSG has released more than 400,000 juvenile salmon in the Mattole River and its tributaries, and the river has seen a steady increase in the number of salmon and steelhead who return to spawn. MSG's programs include direct enhancements such as a hatchbox program and rescue rearing, habitat restoration, monitoring and research, plus education and community outreach.


December, 2003 Update
Native Mattole salmon and the Mattole Salmon Group (MSG) have had a challenging and exciting year, notable for its new initiatives and innovative projects, and the usual wild cards dealt by Mother Nature. Abundant rains in March and April ensured plentiful water for salmonid fry lucky enough to survive the difficult 2002-2003 spawning season. High river levels kept the river mouth open well into summer and allowed nearly all of this year's down-migrating young Chinook salmon to enter the ocean rather than be trapped in the overheated lagoon that forms when the river mouth closes. For the first time in four years, over - summering coho salmon and steelhead fry had adequate river flow in the Mattole headwaters. (read more)

Salmon Trapped In A Blocked Estuary
December 10, 2007
The Mattole estuary is the gateway through which all Mattole salmonid populations pass to enter and leave the river. Historically, the estuary likely functioned as a nursery where juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon thrived in deep pools, a well-developed slough system, and complex, shaded streambank habitats. These conditions once nurtured thousands of juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead. They spent their first summers in the lagoon's protected and productive waters until autumn rains forced the mouth open. (read more)


Mattole Salmon Group: State of the Mattole Steelhead
April 24, 2007
The 11th Annual Summer Steelhead Dive in the Mattole River watershed was held on July 14-15, 2006. Forty-seven local fish enthusiasts donned their wetsuits and snorkeled throughout 24 reaches of the Mattole River to find the elusive summer steelhead. Thank you to divers from the MSG, MRC, Mattole community, USFWS, NMFS, Nick's Interns, and Americorps who contributed their time and expertise to make the 2006 dives a success. (read more)


Mattole Salmon Group: Looking Beneath the Surface
November 15, 2006
Working in and around rivers and streams comes naturally to the Mattole Salmon Group (MSG). And with the help of local landowners, state and federal agencies, and volunteers during 2006, we marked the 25th consecutive year of fish monitoring performed throughout the Mattole River watershed by the MSG. (read more)


Mattole Salmon Group
December 1, 2005
Working in and around rivers and streams comes naturally to the Mattole Salmon Group (MSG). And with the help of local landowners and volunteers, 2005 marked the 20th consecutive year of habitat restoration performed throughout the Mattole River watershed by the MSG. (read more)


Mattole Salmon Group
September 20, 2005
This year's spring rains helped sustain river flows and prolonged the duration of the open Matole river mouth. In the past, river mouth closure has led to the unambiguous demise of juvenile chinook salmon trapped in the lagoon. The combination of mild temperatures and high flows will secure another successful year for the Mattole salmon, allowing the fish to stay in fresh water longer and grow larger before entering the ocean. (read more)


Mattole Salmon Group: 25 Years and Counting...
April 4, 2005
The Mattole Salmon Group is celebrating a quarter-century of salmon restoration. It has been 25 years since a small, determined group of watershed residents decided that they had to take action to prevent the disappearance of the awe-inspiring wild salmon from the Mattole River. In the face of indifference, resistance, and sometimes hostility from agencies and others invested in the status quo, they persisted in establishing one of the first citizen-based salmon restoration organizations in the western U.S. (read more)


Mattole Salmon Group
December 8, 2004
Wild Mattole salmon have had a good year. A near-perfect spawning season last winter was followed by a successful down-migration of yearling coho and tens of thousands of young-of-the-year Chinook salmon. Though rains ended early this past season, a cool spring and early summer helped sustain river flows and keep the river mouth open long enough for nearly all of the young salmon to reach the ocean. Even the vandalism in May that killed 8000 fish had little impact on the overall success of the down-migration. (read more)


Mill Creek Watershed Conservancy: Community Management Plan Completed
December 8, 2004
The Mill Creek Watershed Conservancy and Mattole Restoration Council, with the assistance of the Mattole Salmon Group, the California Coastal Conservancy, and the Bureau of Land Management, have completed the draft community plan and preferred management alternative for the public lands of the Mill Creek watershed. (read more)


Mattole Salmon Group
September 6, 2004
Moving beyond tragedy... (read more)



Contact Information

Email: evenson@igc.org
Web Site: www.mattolesalmon.org
Phone: (707) 629-3670
PO Box 188 Petrolia, CA 95558