For the first time in 114 years, biologists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have observed a fall-run Chinook salmon returning to spawning in the Klamath Basin in Oregon. By Dan Bacher On October 16, the ODFW documented this bright fish in a tributary to the Klamath River, Spencer Creek, above the former J.C. Boyle […]
The struggle by Tribes, environmental organizations, fishing groups and the people of California to stop the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP), AKA Delta Tunnel, heated up today with the submission of a formal statement with the State Water Resources Control Board that highlights the “fundamental flaws” with the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) hearings. […]
The Klamath River runs free for the first time in a century as the largest dam removal in US history nears completion. Tribal and conservation advocates celebrate as river is returned to historic channel; restoration activities to continue for several more years By Dan Bacher Press Release from Klamath River Renewal Corporation • Karuk Tribe • Yurok Tribe American Rivers […]
At a press event to celebrate the above average snowpack survey in the Sierra Nevada on April 2, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the state’s controversial updated California Water Plan to supposedly “protect California’s water supplies from the climate crisis” while boosting the state’s ability to capture and store water for when dry conditions return. By Dan Bacher Among the key […]
Scott Artis, the Golden State Salmon Association’s executive director, responded to the latest California salmon return numbers reported in the Pacific Fishery Management Council report released on February 16, 2024. By Dan Bacher “Under Governor Newsom, the upper Sacramento River, formerly the most important salmon producing river south of the Columbia, has been killed off,” […]
This week, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led their colleagues in an urgent letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo calling for them to swiftly declare a federal fishery disaster, joining California Governor Gavin Newsom in his request. By Dan Bacher “The closure of this vital […]
Commercial and recreational fishing for salmon will be banned this year in marine waters off California and most of Oregon due to historically low fall run Chinook salmon returns to the Sacramento and Klamath watersheds last year. On Thursday, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) unanimously voted to recommend a full closure of the recreational and commercial fishing season, […]
The following is my short testimony during the the State Water Resources Control Board workshop Monday on the Big Ag-promoted voluntary agreements being pushed by the Newsom Administration: By Dan Bacher My name is Dan Bacher, independent journalist. I strongly oppose the voluntary agreements. These agreements are at their essence an incestuous backroom deal negotiated […]
The leadership of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, the Golden Gate Fisherman’s Association, and the Northern California Guides and Sportsmen’s Association are calling for an immediate closure of the 2023 salmon season and are requesting that Governor Newsom, the State Legislature, and state agencies seek Federal and State disaster assistance funding for affected ocean […]
The leadership of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, the Golden Gate Fisherman’s Association, and the Northern California Guides and Sportsmen’s Association are calling for an immediate closure of the 2023 salmon season and are requesting that Governor Newsom, the State Legislature, and state agencies seek Federal and State disaster assistance funding for affected ocean […]
This is the press release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reporting on the CDFW’’s Salmon Information Webinar that took place yesterday. Not mentioned in the press release is that the vast majority of participants showed their vocal support for an ocean and river salmon fishing closure like that one in 2008-2009 when salmon stocks declined to […]
To inform the “Adapting Water Rights to our 21st Century Climate” hearing at the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife on Tuesday 2/28/23, Restore the Delta today released the results of a California water rights analysis by race, completed by employees with the Department of Water Resources, but deleted from the agency’s website soon after […]
Gia Moreno of Hood spoke passionately about her commitment to stop the proposed Delta Tunnel at a public meeting hosted by the Delta Counties Coalition and Delta Legislative Caucus at the Willow Ballroom last week. By Dan Bacher “I am a mother, an artist, an educator, and I’m tired. I’m tired of coming to these […]
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today approved the staff recommendation to surrender the license for the four lower PacifiCorp dams on the Klamath River in California and Oregon and begin the dam removal process. By Dan Bacher The vote follows the August 27th release of the FERC staff’s final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) recommending the removal […]
On November 17 at 7 am PST, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will vote on the staff recommendation to surrender the license for the four lower PacifiCorp dams on the Klamath River and begin the dam removal process. In an action celebrated by Klamath Basin Tribes, conservationists and fishing groups, the Federal Energy Regulatory […]