SRRC - About Us

Overview
Mission & Goals
Accomplishments
Our Board
Our Funders
Watershed Center
Links

Overview

Who We Are

Salmon River at Wooley Creek

The Salmon River Restoration Council (SRRC) is a non-profit organization that has been serving California's Salmon River watershed and its community since 1992. We have a permanent staff of thirteen plus additional seasonal project staff and a large, dedicated group of volunteers and members. The SRRC is a chief promoter of cooperative actions within the local community and among the stakeholders of the Salmon River watershed.

What We Do

Our mission is to assess, protect, and maintain the Salmon River ecosystem 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 SRRC addresses the distinct needs of the Salmon River watershed that arise due to the 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 remote, rugged mountain environment.

We work to foster the health and well being of our region and its inhabitants through a variety of projects and programs.

Our long term goals are to enlist community members in a cooperative approach to protect and restore the Salmon River aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, to create economic stability in the community by diversifying job opportunities based on restoration and conservation, to promote cooperative planning, education and management efforts with the managing agencies, the local Native American Tribes and the communities, and to help fill the resource management gaps left by traditional large governmental agencies which often have a difficult time with small or non-traditional projects, in terms of both conception and implementation.

SRRC's Beginning

Fall Chinook in the mainstem Salmon River

In 1992, a group of Salmon River community members received support from the Klamath River Fisheries Task Force to host a series of cooperative workshops for the communities in the Salmon River subbasin. These workshops were aimed at increasing local awareness to help protect and restore the dwindling populations of Spring Chinook salmon and Summer Steelhead in the Salmon River. The community response was overwhelmingly positive and illegal harvest of these species was noticeably reduced.

In response to the local community's desire to protect and restore the Salmon River anadromous fisheries, the Salmon River Community Restoration Program was created in 1993. Through the vehicle of the Community Restoration Program, local involvement and broadened volunteer efforts increased and led to the formation of the Salmon River Restoration Council, which became a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation in 1995.

To date the SRRC has sponsored more than 750 restoration related workshops, workdays, and field trips. Community members, staff, technical specialists, and others have contributed over 9,323 volunteer days (74,583 hours) to watershed restoration activities. These activities have helped to increase coordination and cooperation between diverse stakeholders.

Mission Statement

Artwork by Sarah Hugdahl

The mission of the Salmon River Restoration Council is to assess, protect, restore and maintain the Salmon River ecosystems with the active participation of the local community, focusing on restoration of the anadromous fisheries resources and the development of a sustainable economy. We provide assistance and education to the general public and cooperating agencies by facilitating communication and cooperation between the local communities, managing agencies, Native American Tribes, and other stakeholders.

Long Term Goals

Enlist community members in a cooperative approach to protect and restore the Salmon River aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, emphasizing the anadromous fisheries and biologically unique features.
Promote economic stability in the community by diversifying job opportunities based on restoration, conservation, and management of the Salmon River aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, emphasizing the anadromous fisheries resource.
Promote cooperative planning, education, assessment, restoration monitoring, and management efforts between the agencies, the local tribes, resource users, the community and others for the protection and restoration of the Salmon River ecosystem.
Assist in filling in the resource management gaps left by traditional large governmental agencies, such as the Forest Service, who have a difficult time with small or non‑traditional projects – both in terms of conception and implementation.

Accomplishments

Artwork by Sarah Hugdahl

The Salmon River Restoration Council is proud to have made many significant contributions to the community and watershed. Our work is made possible by a dedicated staff, numerous volunteer workers, our board of directors, funders, members, and significant community support. Below are some of our accomplishments.

Please read our 2007 Accomplishments Report for a detailed look at our recent work.

General

Produced an annual Community Restoration Plan to guide Salmon River restoration
Co-authored the Salmon River Subbasin Restoration Strategy in 2002
Operated the Salmon River Watershed Center in Sawyers Bar since 1996
Provided restoration jobs to Salmon River residents since 1992, providing a sustainable economic base in our remote area

Fisheries

Coordinated and participated in various Salmon River fisheries surveys since 1992
Coordinated the Spring Chinook Voluntary Recovery Group
Developed the Salmon River Limiting Factors Analysis for Spring Chinook
Attained crucial, otherwise unavailable population data for Salmon River and Klamath Basin Spring Chinook and other anadromous fish
Substantially decreased the illegal harvest of Salmon River Spring Chinook through poaching prevention workshops and education
Assessed and mapped Salmon River thermal refugia areas
Enhanced cold water refugia areas and rearing habitat on prioritized river sites and tributaries
Operated the Salmon River juvenile outmigration screw trap since 2001

Noxious Weeds

Launched the most effective manual noxious weed eradication effort in the region, controlling 15 prioritized noxious weed species without the use of toxic chemicals
Reduced or eliminated spotted knapweed populations on over 270 sites. This program has reduced spotted knapweed plant populations in the watershed by 99% between 1996 and 2007.
Completed the Salmon River Cooperative Noxious Weed Plan

Fire Planning and Fuels Reduction

Facilitated the Salmon River Fire Safe Council since 2000
Completed the Salmon River Community Wildfire Protection Plan and several detailed neighborhood fire safe plans
Identified and mapped all Salmon River tanker fill sites and helispots
Completed over 500 acres of fuels reduction work on 118 private land parcels
Provided strategic local knowledge of fire history in the watershed and GIS map products to federal fire fighting efforts during the wildfires of 2006

Watershed Education, Outreach, and Community Involvement

Provided watershed education to Salmon River schools for 14 years
Produced educational and outreach tools to promote Salmon River restoration including brochures, newsletters, website, and monthly activities calendar
Sponsored over 1,000 restoration-related activities since 1996 including workshops, workdays, and trainings
Produced and posted maps and detailed infomation on Salmon River fishing regulations to help anglers maintain compliance with the law

Watershed Monitoring

Monitored baseline river conditions since 1996
Collected over 900,000 temperature data points for the Salmon River from approximately 50 sites since 1997
Assisted in the development and implementation of the Salmon River TMDL

Roads Stewardship and Restoration

Completed sediment source assessments for all federal and most private roads in the watershed, totaling over 900 miles of road.
Cooperated in the removal of several major fish passage barriers including Merrill Creek and Kelly Gulch.
Currently engaged in the NEPA assessments and removal of White’s Gulch and Hotelling Gulch fish passage barriers.

River Clean-Up

Completed the “Leave No Junker Behind” project in 2006. Over 330 junk vehicles, 625 tons (32 semi loads) of scrap metal, and 37 tons of tires were removed from the watershed and recycled. This project involved more than 2000 hours of volunteer work.
Since 1997 we’ve removed over 60 pickup loads of trash and 22 tons of debris (including a 20 ton bridge) from the watershed during River Clean-Up days. More than 500 volunteer hours have been contributed.

Board of Directors

Artwork by Sarah Hugdahl

The SRRC is guided by a nine-member volunteer board of directors who serve one year terms.

Petey Brucker, President
SRRC Program Coordinator

Toz Soto, Vice-President
Karuk Tribe Fisheries Biologist

Kathy McBroom, Secretary & Treasurer
SRRC Office Manager

Will Harling
MKWC Program Coordinator

Ron Reed
Karuk Tribe Cultural Biologist
Traditional Dipnet Fisherman

Scott Harding
Photographer & Kayak Instructor

Creek Hanauer
Kayak Instructor

Ben Beaver
Community Member

Sharon Hoppas
Community Member

Our Funders

Artwork by Sarah Hugdahl

We would like to thank our current and past funders for their generous support. Without them, we would not be able to do our work.

Current Funders

Government Agencies

California Department of Fish & Game
California Fish & Game Commission
NOAA Restoration Center
Siskiyou County Department of Agriculture
Siskiyou County RAC-USFS
US Department of Agriculture
US Fish & Wildlife Service
US Forest Service
US Bureau of Reclamation

Private Foundation Funders

Other Funders

Corporate Sponsors

Outback Power
ESRI

Past Funders

Bank of America
Bureau of Land Management
CA Department of Fish & Game SB271
Conservation Technology Support Program
Frank Culver
For the Sake of the Salmon
Hewlett Packard
Humboldt Area Foundation
Klamath Fisheries Task Force
McConnell Foundation
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Sacramento Regional Foundation
Trimble
Various private donors

Salmon River Watershed Center

SRRC's Salmon River Watershed Center

The SRRC has operated the Salmon River Watershed Center in Sawyers Bar since 1996.

This large multipurpose facility is open to the public and serves as a community center for restoration meetings, a library with resource-related media, and an office for SRRC staff. The Watershed Center provides a space for many of the educational outreach events the SRRC puts on.

Services Available

Public Internet and computer access (including wireless Internet)
Photocopies
Phone & fax
Notary public (by appointment)
Library (books, videos, periodicals, etc.)
Watershed and river information
Meeting space

Directions to the Salmon River Watershed Center

Address: 25631 Sawyers Bar Road, Sawyers Bar, CA 96027

The Watershed Center is located on the downriver end of Sawyers Bar in the large brown building (formerly the Sawyers Bar School). The nearest milemarker on the road is Mile 14 and we are about 1/4 mile upriver from the milemarker (at 14.25).

Get a detailed map and driving directions from your location.

Driving times (approximate)

From I-5 at Yreka: 1.5 hours (road sometimes closes in winter after storms)
From I-5 at Weed: 2 hours (via Etna, road sometimes closes in winter after storms)
From Highway 96 at Somes Bar: 1 hour
From US 101 at Arcata: 3.5 hours

Links to Our Cooperators

Tribes

Karuk Tribe of California
www.karuk.us

Yurok Tribe
www.yuroktribe.org

Governmental Organizations

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF)
www.fire.ca.gov

California Department of Fish and Game
www.dfg.ca.gov

US Fish and Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov/yreka

NOAA Fisheries Service
www.nmfs.noaa.gov

US Forest Service, Six Rivers National Forest
www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers

US Forest Service, Klamath National Forest
www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath

Natural Resource Conservation Service
www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov

North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
www.swrcb.ca.gov

Non-Governmental Organizations

Klamath Basin Ecosystem Foundation
www.kbef.org

Mid Klamath Watershed Council
www.mkwc.org

Mattole Restoration Council
www.mattole.org

Redwood Community Action Agency, Natural Resource Services
www.nrsrcaa.org/nrs/home.htm

Klamath-Salmon Natural History Library
www.klamathsalmonlibrary.org

Klamath Siskiyou Art Center
www.ksartcenter.org

One Basin – Coming Together for the Klamath Basin
www.onebasin.org

The Salmon Coalition
www.pelicannetwork.net/salmon.htm

Fire Safe Council of California
www.firesafecouncil.org

Klamath Restoration Council
www.klamathrestoration.org