1940s - In California, naturally spawning coho salmon number between 200,000 and 500,000.

Early 1990s - California's population of naturally spawning coho has fallen to between 10,000 and 15,000. Coho have been extirpated from 50% of the streams they once inhabited.

Early 1990s - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) rejects numerous petitions to list coho under the Endangered Species Act; NMFS finally accepts a petition in October of 1993.

July, 1995 - Following a lawsuit brought by more than twenty environmental and fisheries organizations (including EPIC), NMFS, under court order, publishes its intention to list California coho populations as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

July, 1995 - California's Resources Agency initiates the Coastal Salmon Initiative (CSI), a voluntary conservation planning effort intended to avert the listing of coho salmon.

September, 1996 - Due to lack of progress and bad faith actions by the Resources Agency, the Fisheries/ Restoration/Environmental representatives to the CSI resign from the Policy Committee.

October, 1996 - NMFS, after a delay of more than a year, finally heeds part of the court order and lists California's central and southern coho populations. The listing for northern California is postponed, pending six more months of study to resolve "scientific disagreements" largely manufactured by timber industry lobbyists.

December, 1996 - NMFS withdraws commitment to publish guidelines for conservation of coho, and refuses to review Timber Harvest Plans for coho impacts.

May, 1997 - NMFS, complying with the 1995 court order (and finding no legitimate "scientific disagreements" over the need for a listing), lists California's northern coho populations as "threatened."

September, 1997 - NMFS again withdraws renewed commitment to publish guidelines for conservation of coho.

December, 1997 - NMFS yet again withdraws renewed commitment to publish guidelines for conservation of coho.

March 1998 -In an attempt to avoid the listing of Steelhead trout, NMFS and the Wilson Administration sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that includes a commitment to establish a Scientific Review Panel that will review the Forest Practice Rules' effectiveness in protecting salmon and steelhead.

March 18, 1999 - EPIC, the Center for Biological Diversity, and nearly two dozen other fishing, Native American and conservation groups notify CDF and the Board of Forestry of their intent to sue the state over CDF's continuing approval of Timber Harvest Plans that harm coho.

April 1999 -The Supreme Court affirms that citizens can sue state and local governments for permitting unauthorized 'take' of endangered species. County Council of Volusia County, Florida v. Loggerhead Turtle., Cert Denied.

May 1999 - Critical habitat designated for all California coho.

June 1999 - The Scientific Review Panel releases its report on the Forest Practice Rules and finds that the FPRs fail to protect coho. The report makes several specific recommendations for rule changes and further scientific study.

July 1999 - The Davis administration introduces Forest Practice Rules changes, which NMFS considers inadequate to protect coho.

December 1999 -NMFS finally releases a document providing guidance for avoiding harm to salmon in the course of logging in California.

January 2000 - NMFS releases 'Conservation Guidelines' for California salmon and steelhead. This document describes key habitat characteristics and general management considerations necessary to provide for salmon conservation.

March 1, 2000 - EPIC and 19 other groups file suit in federal court in San Francisco to stop CDF from violating the federal Endangered Species Act by approving THPs that result in harm to coho and coho habitat.