WRC Will Conserve Tract Along South Fork Trinity

California's South Fork Trinity River is a celebrated tributary to the Klamath River that once hosted an abundance of native steelhead, chinook and coho salmon. However, populations of anadromous fish have been declining since the 1960s due to harmful sediment loading caused by flooding, landslides, logging and road-building.

As California's longest Wild and Scenic river, the South Fork Trinity is now the subject of increased restoration efforts, particularly efforts to limit the potential for harmful sediment loading.

Joining in this effort, Western Rivers Conservancy recently signed an agreement to purchase a 160-acre private in-holding within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The property has one-half mile of frontage on the river in the heart of the most productive spawning reach for steelhead and chinook salmon. However, the property's steep, unstable steam banks have a high erosion potential, and are vulnerable to logging and slope failure.

WRC will purchase the land and partner with the local Trinity River Land Conservancy to conserve this important part of the river from any further loss of habitat for salmonids and other wildlife. Once protected, the property will be a place to tell the recovery story of the decimated spring chinook runs.

The result will be cleaner, clearer waters along this critical spawning reach, helping to bring back the Trinity's once-great runs of salmon and steelhead.