The Eel River once possessed one of the largest and most productive estuaries on the West Coast. More than 6,500 acres of this rich delta of perennial and seasonal wetlands, and miles of tidal sloughs and river channels, provided an expanse of habitats for a rich diversity of aquatic and terrestrial species, as well as critical nursery habitat for major salmon and steelhead runs. But a century and a half of ‘reclamation’ reduced the estuary by more than half, transforming the remainder into a lucrative working landscape of ranching and dairy lands.
In recent years, drainage problems, the threat of sea level rise, and regional restoration efforts, have combined to create new opportunities that benefit agricultural and ecosystem interests simultaneously. Three projects illustrate the importance and success of this approach.
Three landscape-scale projects involving state and federal agencies, county officials, landowners, and conservation partners are underway in the Eel River delta to meet 21st century challenges. These projects are:
• The Wildlands Conservancy’s Eel River Estuary Preserve
Enhancement Project
• The Salt River Ecosystem Restoration Project, led by the Humboldt
County Resource Conservation District
• The Ocean Ranch Unit of the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Eel River
Wildlife Area
Restoring the Eel River Delta
A team of restoration partners helps transform a landscape