Friends of Small Places (FoSP) believes that our rivers are a public trust resource deserving of protection and preservation to be enjoyed by present and future generations. We believe that our rivers are threatened by poorly regulated expansion of gravel mining and industrial processing.

Thus far, there has been little public attention paid to the cumulative effects of industrial gravel mining on our rivers and watersheds. Gravel mining in the river can cause sedimentation and channelization, which can account for countless fish lost through egg destruction, fish entrapment and the destruction spawning grounds. We believe that the present high levels of gravel mining in Humboldt County is not compatible with a healthy environment and is directly responsible for much of the destruction of our watersheds and fisheries. The new and emerging environmental threat facing our North Coast comes from extreme gravel mining operations.

FoSP believes that all future river gravel mining and industrial processing in Humboldt County must be done in such a way as to not negatively impact our unique and fragile human communities and river ecosystems. And we want to make sure that regulatory agencies actually follow through on the necessary environmental oversight and enforcement.


Friends of Small Places
April 24, 2007
The founding members of Friends of Small Places have been fighting irresponsible gravel miners and gravel processing along the Van Duzen and Mad rivers. We became a sponsored project of the Trees Foundation in October 2006--and thus began the tribulations and triumphs associated with a brand-new grassroots environmental group. (read more)


Welcome To Our New Partner: Friends of Small Places Targets Gravel Mining
November 15, 2006
Friends of Small Places is a local Northern CA organization concerned with impacts to rural neighborhoods and river ecosystems brought about by gravel mining and crushing, and asphalt and concrete production. Friends of Small Places (FOSP) was founded by Kristen Lark, Carlos Quilez, and Jessica Puccinelli when they realized how difficult it would be to prevail as individuals against the strong and lucrative gravel industry. (read more)



Contact Information

Email: friends@friendsofsmallplaces.org
Web Site: www.friendsofsmallplaces.org
1630 River Bar Road Fortuna, CA 95540