Salmon River Restoration Council

Salmon River Restoration Council
December 10, 2007


The Salmon River watershed is 751 square miles and 98.7% federally owned. It is one of the most biologically intact sub-basins of the Klamath River Basin and is entirely within Karuk Ancestral Territory. The Salmon River is known for its high-value fisheries as well as boasting one of the richest regions of species diversity in the temperate zones. It is the largest cold-water contributor to the Klamath River of any tributary in the system. It is home to several species of fish at risk of extinction: summer and winter runs of wild Klamath Mountains Province Steelhead, spring and fall Chinook salmon, and coho salmon.

The Salmon River Restoration Council (SRRC), a 501(c)(3) organization, has been serving the Salmon River watershed and its community since 1992. A main focus of the SRRC's work is the restoration of the anadromous fisheries resources and the development of a sustainable local economy. As the watershed is in the Karuk Tribe's ancestral territory, and they are one of our closest cooperators, our work is undeniably linked with respect for tribal history, values, and management practices. Historically the Karuk tribe was one of the most financially stable tribes in California because of their abundant fisheries resources. With the recent decline in local salmon populations, an equally rapid decline has been seen in the tribe's financial stability and in the quality of life of tribal members. Even the overall health of tribal members has degraded due to the lack of fish.

Fuel reduction workshop on public land Photo: SRRC archives

The mission of our organization is to assess, protect, and maintain the Salmon River ecosystems with the active participation of the local community, focusing on the anadromous fisheries resource, and the development of a sustainable economy. Through cooperative management activities, the Council addresses the distinct needs of the Salmon River sub-basin that arise due to the negative impacts of past catastrophic fires and fire management, timber harvest, road construction, mining, grazing, floods, residential and recreational use, as well as the inherent challenges faced in the rugged mountain environment.

SRRC operates under the direction of a volunteer Board of Directors. A permanent staff of twelve and hundreds of community volunteers carry out our activities. The SRRC is a chief organizer and promoter of cooperative actions within the community and among the stakeholders of the Salmon River sub-basin. The Council is active in several coordinated watershed planning groups, including the Salmon River Learning and Understanding Group.

One of the ways we further the interest, awareness, and education of the local population is through watershed stewardship workshops, monitoring and assessment field days and volunteer training workdays. We cover a variety of topics, including:
* Fish population monitoring and habitat surveys,
* Riparian habitat restoration and protection,
* Noxious weed identification and a nonchemical approach to management,
* Native plant identification, propagation, and use in riparian restoration,
* Water temperature monitoring training and yearly deployment of monitoring equipment,
* Basic computer skills,
* GIS/GPS technologies and use,
* Wildfire safety and fuels management,
* Recycling and Hazardous Waste awareness, River Trash Cleanup, and
* Problems and solutions related to various resource uses (fishing, mining, logging, roads, grazing, and residential).

A dam that will be removed. Photo: SRRC archives

Additionally, the SRRC works to foster the health and well-being of our region through a variety of programs. Our Watershed Education Program integrates watershed and fisheries awareness into the curricula of the two Salmon River schools, and has met with much acclaim from students, teachers, parents, and the community. The SRRC's Fisheries Program encompasses not only the Salmon River but the entire Klamath River basin with projects that focus on cooperation among different stakeholders and agencies to protect and restore native fisheries resources in the Salmon River. We conduct surveys throughout the year for adult and juvenile coho, spring and fall Chinook salmon, summer and winter steelhead, sturgeon and lamprey. Our Cooperative Noxious Weed Program is a community-based approach to eradicating noxious weeds in our watershed, using manual methods rather than herbicides. Spotted Knapweed, a Class A pest in California, was discovered here in 1997. The original inventory found hundreds of thousands of the aggressive weed. Through our community-based "I Dig Weeds" program, we have virtually eradicated it. Our Water Monitoring Program monitors water quality and quantity on the Salmon River and its tributaries in order to better promote and understand the health of the river and its fisheries. This year we will be working on a temperature dynamics study which will help us with our Riparian Restoration Program. In 2005, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board published the Salmon River TMDL study. This study mandates that shading of the river and tributaries be increased in order to lower the water temperature during the hottest part of the year. To help with future planting needs, we have started a Native Plant Nursery that will provide local plants for riparian planting projects. Our Fire Planning and Fuel Reduction Program promotes a collaborative approach to fire planning and fuel reduction projects in the Salmon River landscape. In collaboration with the Salmon River Fire Safe Council and other cooperators, we just completed our Salmon River Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The Salmon River has a history of large fires that is the number one threat to the stability of the watershed. This CWPP, as well as the U. S. Forest Service, will guide us with assessments, plans and projects that will eventually return fire to this fire-adapted ecosystem. We are currently working on a Collaborative Stewardship Project with the Klamath National Forest and other cooperators to design a program of treatments to protect the 61,000-acre Eddy Late Successional Reserve from future stand-replacing fires. Our Fish Barrier Removal Program is in the process of removing two small diversion dams on one tributary, and completing a Feasibility Study to determine the best course of action on another fish barrier stream.

The Council's three key media outreach projects: a monthly calendar, newsletters, and a web site, www.srrc.org, provide local residents, landowners, governmental agencies, local tribes, other environmentally minded groups, and the general public with up-to-date information on the SRRC, our current activities, the Salmon River region, and the issues that affect it. The Watershed Center, located in Sawyers Bar, houses the SRRC office. It also contains a reference library, a history display, and provides watershed information to the community. The Center also provides space for public meetings and training sessions, public computers, and wireless Internet access.

Recently, a documentary entitled "Salmon on the Backs of Buffalo" was produced by the Klamath Salmon Media Collaborative, of which the SRRC is a member and contributor. The film told the story of the tribe and its fishery and of the efforts being made to restore and protect the natural resources of the Klamath basin. The film has ultimately become an extremely useful tool for calling public attention to the issues of the Klamath, and for gaining support for restoration work and advocacy.

For more information: www.srrc.org


This article can be found online at www.treesfoundation.org/publications/article-293

Forest & River News is produced by Trees Foundation. For more information contact:
Salmon River Restoration Council
PO Box 1089
Sawyers Bar, CA 96027
Phone: (530) 462-4665