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1973: Jerry Meral, Rob Caughlan, David Oke, and
David Kay came together as Friends of the River to protect the
Stanislaus River from the New Melones Dam and Reservoir. Friends of the
River (FOR) became an organization that gathered signatures to place an
initiative on the statewide ballot to protect the Stanislaus as a state
Wild & Scenic River.
1974: The Stanislaus Wild & Scenic River
initiative is narrowly defeated in a statewide election. Friends of the
River continues its campaign to stop the filling of New Melones
Reservoir on the Stanislaus, but also begins a new campaign to preserve
the American River Canyon from Auburn Dam. Construction of the Auburn
Dam is halted amid concerns of earthquake safety.
1975: Under the direction of Mark Dubois and Jennifer Jennings, FOR becomes a membership-based organization. Donors rejoice.
1979: The North Fork American River is added to the
National Wild & Scenic Rivers system. It’s the first California
river to receive protection since the act was passed in 1968 and the
second California river to be added to the federal system. For seven
days, Friends of the River Executive Director Mark Dubois chains himself
to a rock to block the filling of the New Melones Reservoir.
1981: The National Wild & Scenic Rivers System
expands to include the Smith, Klamath, Scott, Salmon, Trinity, Eel, Van
Duzen, and Lower American rivers. A major mining project is defeated on
Middle Fork Feather River, California’s first federally protected river.
1982: Friends of the River plays a key role in
passing state legislation prohibiting dam building on the South Fork
American River. A statewide initiative that was circulated by Friends of
the River activists to improve water management and prevent the filling
of the New Melones Reservoir on the Stanislaus River is defeated at the
polls. A statewide referendum defeats the proposal to build the
Peripheral Canal, which would allow more northern California water to be
exported south of the Delta.
1983: The New Melones reservoir drowns the Stanislaus River.
1984: The Tuolumne River is added to the National
Wild & Scenic Rivers system after Friends of the River generates
more than 5,000 letters urging Senator Pete Wilson to protect the river.
1986: Friends of the River helps pass federal
legislation that requires more environmental protection when the federal
government licenses dam projects. A near flood in Sacramento renews
calls to build the Auburn dam on the American River.
1987: Friends of the River’s Three Rivers Campaign
results in adding segments of the Merced, Kings, and Kern rivers to the
National Wild & Scenic Rivers system.
1989: The Smith River National Recreation Area is
established. Friends of the River successfully lobbies to add the East
Carson and West Walker rivers to the California Wild & Scenic Rivers
system, the first rivers to be added to the state system since it was
established in 1972. New dams are prohibited on the McCloud River.
1992: In response to Friends of the River’s intense
lobbying campaign in Washington, DC, a bill re-authorizing construction
of the Auburn Dam on the American River is defeated in Congress on a 2
to 1 vote. The lower Merced River, Big Sur River, Sisquoc River, and
Sespe Creek are added to the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System.
The Central Valley Project Improvement Act is passed to provide water
for fish, wildlife, and recreation from federal dam projects in
California. Friends of the River also helps pass legislation to provide
protection for the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
1993: Proposed hydroelectric projects on the North
Fork Stanislaus and South Yuba rivers are withdrawn due to public
opposition and poor economics.
1994: The upper Klamath River in Oregon is added to
the National Wild & Scenic Rivers system. Friends of the River
generates public comments supporting changes in the operation of the
Glen Canyon Dam to help restore the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
1995: Friends of the River successfully lobbies for
state legislation prohibiting new dam projects on Deer and Mill creeks,
the best remaining spring run Chinook salmon streams in the Sacramento
River watershed.
1996: An Auburn dam bill in Congress is defeated
again. Proposed dam projects on the Clavey and North Fork Mokelumne
Rivers are rejected by the federal government. Friends of the River
establishes an outdoor adventure program for disadvantaged teenagers
(called River Quest) and initiates a new program to improve river flows
for fish, wildlife, and recreation through the federal relicensing of
hydroelectric projects.
1997: Friends of the River intervenes in the federal
relicensing for hydroelectric projects on the North Fork Kings, North
Fork Feather, Santa Ana, and San Joaquin rivers.
1999: After contentious debate, Friends of the River
and its allies convince the California Legislature and Governor Gray
Davis to add the South Yuba River to the California Wild & Scenic
Rivers system.
2000: Friends of the River signs settlements with
PG&E and other parties that improve flows for fish, wildlife, and
recreation in the Mokelumne and North Fork Feather Rivers as part of the
federal relicensing of PG&E’s hydroelectric projects. Friends of
the River becomes involved in the relicensing of PacifiCorp’s four
hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River (three of which are located in
California). The McCormick-Saeltzer Dam on Clear Creek is removed to
improve salmon and steelhead migration.
2001: Friends of the River’s continued opposition to
the Auburn dam prevents introduction of an Auburn dam funding bill in
Congress. Friends of the River completes the first statewide inventory
of potential Wild & Scenic Rivers, identifying for potential
protection nearly 4,000 miles of rivers and streams throughout
California.
2002: Friends of the River negotiates an agreement
that improves flows for fish, wildlife, and recreation in the North Fork
Kern River as part of the federal license for a Southern California
Edison hydroelectric project. Senator Barbara Boxer introduces the
California Wild Heritage Act, which includes 22 proposed Wild &
Scenic Rivers totaling more than 500 miles. This bill sets the federal
agenda for river protection in California for the next 10 years.
2003: Friends of the River successfully campaigns to
add the Albion and Gualala Rivers to the California Wild & Scenic
Rivers system, ending a plan to divert fresh water from the rivers for
export to southern California. Three dams on Panther and Beaver Creeks
are removed as part of the Mokelumne hydro settlement. Friends of the
River proposes the removal of PacifiCorp’s hydroelectric dams on the
Klamath River to restore the river’s declining salmon population.
2004: Friends of the River helps pass state
legislation that requires urban areas in California to install and use
water meters a requirement that will reduce urban water use by more than
20 percent in non-metered cities. Friends of the River negotiates a
settlement with PG&E to improve flows for fish, wildlife, and
recreation in the Stanislaus River as part of the federal relicensing of
PG&E’s hydroelectric projects. Friends of the River and the Klamath
River Indian Tribes visit Scotland to lobby PacifiCorp’s parent company
to remove hydro dams and restore the Klamath River.
2005: Friends of the River and its allies
successfully encourage the passage of state legislation adding Cache
Creek to the California Wild & Scenic Rivers system. The 2005
California Water Plan Update is published, proposing a scenario for
California that would reduce water use and increase conservation while
continuing to meet the needs of our growing population without building
new dams!
2006: The Black Butte River is added to the National
Wild & Scenic Rivers System. Grassroots pressure led by Friends of
the River convinces the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to sign an
agreement in principle for the relicensing of its Upper American River
Project, improving flows in the South Fork American River and its
tributaries. Friends of the River defeats state legislation to fund new
dams in California.
2007: Friends of the River negotiates an agreement
with Southern California Edison to improve flows for fish, wildlife, and
recreation in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries as part of the
federal relicensing of SCE’s hydroelectric projects. The North Fork
American River is restored at the old Auburn dam site. Friends of the
River and the Klamath River Indian Tribes visit Omaha, Nebraska, to
lobby PacifiCorp’s new parent company to restore the Klamath River.
2008: Governor Schwarzenegger and Senator Feinstein
proposed a $5 billion water bond including 3 new dams, that was
unsuccessful in being placed on the November ’08 ballot. The Bureau of
Reclamation’s water rights at the Auburn Dam were revoked by the State
Water Board thanks to 20+ years of work by FOR and its Conservation
Director Ron Stork. Our Wild and Scenic staff helped put together a
nationwide wilderness bill which will protect another 105 miles of
rivers in California (passed early in 2009). And PacifiCorps, the
states of CA and Oregon, and the Dept. of the Interior signed an
Agreement in Principal to remove the dams on the Klamath which FOR is
working hard to improve.
2009: See our extensive 2009 Accomplishments
2010:
2011:
2012: See our 2012 River Victories page
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