Published 11 months ago • loading... • Updated 11 months ago
Northern California tribes sign treaty to restore Eel River, fish populations, after dams removed
The Treaty of Friendship commits two tribes to restore the Eel River ecosystem and fish habitats as dam removal begins in 2028, led by Pacific Gas & Electric.
Last month, the Round Valley Indian Tribes and the Yurok Tribe signed a Treaty of Friendship to jointly restore the Eel River and its fish populations.
Because the dams have long damaged the Eel River ecosystem and blocked fish habitat, the treaty aligns restoration with PG&E's decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project dams.
As the largest federally recognized tribe in California, the Yurok Tribe, based in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, will contribute dam removal, revegetation, and habitat restoration expertise.
Framing the pact as cultural and ecological, the leaders said the treaty is a practical plan for restoring the Eel River and a symbol to inspire Native tribes globally.
Dam removal is expected to begin, allowing the river to flow freely through Round Valley Indian Tribes' ancestral lands, while tribes cite the four Klamath River dam removals as a recovery model.