"Conditions have improved remarkably since the 1970s
and 1980s, when population abundance probably hit its nadir.
I think we already have a fairly healthy Chinook salmon run.
And some of the fishing guides think there are tens of thousands
of steelhead coming into the river based on their fishing success
in recent years. It's anecdotal evidence, but it aligns with observations of large numbers of fish from volunteers in the
area who are counting fish."
- Darren Mierau, North Coast Director
MEADOWS
Which fish species benefit?
RETURN TO RESILIENCE
Historically, the Eel was the third largest salmon- and steelhead-producing river in California (exceeded only by the Sacramento and Klamath rivers). By extrapolating from cannery records from the late 1800s, fishery biologists estimate that in good spawning years over one million adult salmon and steelhead entered the Eel (comprised of approximately 800,000 Chinook salmon, 100,000 Coho salmon, and 150,000 steelhead).
Restoring the Eel River from headwaters to the sea will benefit all anadromous fish throughout their life cycles. Of particular importance is the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho, who are critically vulnerable to extinction as wild fish within the next 50-100 years. There has likely been a decline of 95% or more in numbers since the 1960s in California due to dam construction and habitat degradation from various land use practices.
The Eel is also home to coastal cutthroat trout and Northern California summer steelhead. All of the Eel’s anadromous species benefit from restoration of the Eel River estuary, which provides important feeding opportunities and rearing habitat for juveniles before their journey to the Pacific Ocean.