SRRC - News & Info

SRRC News:

SRRC's has a new Executive Director, Restoration Director and Associate Director!

January 2012 our Board of Directors officially hired Josh Saxon for the position of Executive Director. He will share the work load with Lyra Cressey who is our Associate Director and Karuna Greenberg who has the title of Restoration Director. Petey Brucker's new role is defined as the Klamath Coordinator. Everyone is excited about the prospects of what these changes will bring for this new year and beyond!

2011 Spring Chinook/Summer Steelhead Population Dive results:

Spring Chinook Adults = 1242
Spring Chinook Jacks = 351
All Chinook = 1593

Steelhead Adults = 190
Steelhead 1/2 pounders = 215
All Steelhead = 405

Thank You All for helping to make the 2011 Dive a success!
Download the complete 1980-2011 dive results spreadsheet .

SRRC Spring/Summer 2011 Newsletter Available online

SRRC's last newsletter "Salmon River Trends and Changes" explores the effects of climate change on the Salmon River watershed, and takes a look at what SRRC's programs are doing to help mitigate potential impacts.

Suction Dredge Mining in the State of California

DFG's current effort to amend the existing regulations and comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is required by a court order issued in a lawsuit brought against DFG by the Karuk Tribe of CA. The lawsuit focused on the Klamath, Scott and Salmon River watersheds in northern CA; included allegations regarding impacts to various fish species, including coho salmon; and contended that DFG's administration of the suction dredging program violated the CEQA and various provisions of the Fish & Game Code.

The DFG has completed the first round of environmental review documents related to the currently suspended Suction Dredge Permitting Program. The Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) comment period ended in May. The Draft SEIR addresses the potential environmental effects of the permitting program, which was suspended in 2009 pending completion of this review, and proposes amendments to the regulations that existed prior to the current moratorium.

In addition to proposing the revised program, the document also evaluates the potential impacts of four alternatives: a No Program Alternative (continuation of the existing moratorium), a 1994 Regulations Alternative (continuation of previous regulations in effect prior to the 2008 moratorium), a Water Quality Alternative (which would include additional program restrictions for water bodies listed as impaired for sediment and mercury pursuant to the Clean Water Act, section 303(d)), and a Reduced Intensity Alternative (which would include greater restrictions on permit issuance and methods of operation to reduce the intensity of environmental effects).
These documents are available at: www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge, and can be provided upon request by calling (530) 225-2275.

Klamath Dam News

The long standing effort to remove the four Klamath dams that block fish passage to upper Klamath Basin has finally resulted in the signing of the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement. The dams are scheduled to be removed in 2020 and will result in the largest dam removal project in world history. The Salmon River Restoration Council participated in the settlement process and is a signatory to the Agreement. Check out Klamath Riverkeeper for more information.

In Memory of Jim V and Christi Hadley

Jim Villeponteaux, SRRC's cofounder and the cofounder of the Siskiyou County and Salmon River FSC's, passed away after a six month battle with pancreatic cancer. His loss is a huge blow to the restoration community and he is sorely missed.

Christi Hadley, SRRC's Bookkeeper, died in an automobile accident in August of 2010 on the Salmon River Road. Grief has no boundaries.