The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, the first Tribally nominated national marine sanctuary in the U.S. was officially designated on November 30, 2024. After over 40 years of advocacy, the area was originally nominated for designation in 2015 by the late Northern Chumash Tribal Council Chief Fred Collins. This effort has now successfully protected 4,543…
In November, 2024, Pomeroy Dam, located on the Illinois River, was successfully demolished. The Pomeroy Dam was rated as one of the highest on the 2019 Statewide Fish Passage Barrier Priority List, which “identifies the most critical man made barriers to fish passage in the state”. The removal of the 270-foot wide concrete structure will…
In late August 2024, Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) and numerous local and national partners helped celebrate the successful removal of the Blake Higgins Dam from the Saxtons River, a tributary of the Connecticut River in Vermont. This 90 foot long and seven foot high structure was listed as a high priority for removal by the…
In late August 2024, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission officially designated 385 miles across 15 rivers and streams in the Upper and Lower Colorado, Eagle, Yampa, and Roaring Fork River basins as Outstanding Waters. The Outstanding Waters designation, authorized by the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and the Clean Water Act, protects high-quality waterways…
In Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees some of the largest intact landscapes left in the country. From the temperate rainforests of Southeast Alaska to north of Nome, these areas hold cultural and spiritual significance as well as essential subsistence for Alaska Indigenous communities, connect tens of millions of acres of important habitat,…
After decades of advocacy from Klamath River Indigenous peoples, community members, conservationists, and fishermen, the final three dams – Iron Gate Dam, Copco Dam 1, and JC Boyle Dam – have been removed from the Klamath River. The fourth dam, Copco Dam 2 was removed in 2023. The effort to free the Klamath River, which…
On August 10, 2024, community members, public officials, recreationists, business members, and others came together to celebrate the opening of a new public park in East Missoula, MT. Located near the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers, this 480-acre parcel is frequented by an increasing number of outdoor enthusiasts and provides access to…
In April 2024, President Biden protected over 105,000 acres of public lands by expanding San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Located near Los Angeles, over 18 million people live within a 90-mile radius of these public lands and the expansion will help ensure and increase equitable access to nature and improve public health for local residents….
In April 2024, President Biden protected over 13,500 acres of public lands sacred to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation by expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk. Molok Luyuk, “Patwin for Condor Ridge,” safeguards public lands, critical wildlife corridors, and biodiversity in the face of a changing climate. Located just north of…
The nearly 23 million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska supports a stunning diversity and abundance of wildlife. More than 400,000 caribou migrate to their calving grounds in the Reserve and iconic marine mammals such as polar bear, walrus, beluga whale, and several species of ice-dependent seals inhabit the coastline. On April 19, 2024, the Biden Administration officially…
