Today, conservation groups and a fishing guide filed suit in federal court in San Francisco to challenge the Trump administration’s new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that “harm” to species does not include destroying their habitat. The decision reverses 50 years of bipartisan agreement that protecting species’ habitat is at the heart of the ESA and, without it, many species will go extinct.

The Scott and Shasta Rivers remain at the center of some of California’s most important salmon recovery and water management decisions. As the first full summer following the Klamath dam removal, 2026 is providing both encouraging signs and significant challenges.

After months of meetings, negotiations, technical review, late-night document digging, threats of litigation, and challenging conversations about the future of the Shasta River, Siskiyou County has rescinded approvals for two proposed irrigation wells in the Shasta Valley and withdrawn the associated Public Trust findings, CEQA exemption, and determinations of no significant impact.

Perhaps you’ve heard the news that a water district 600 miles to the south is exploring options to try to purchase the Potter Valley Project. This is extremely concerning, and is plain and simple a Southern California water grab. This move is supported by the Trump administration, and unfortunately, some local politicians like Todd Lands, who is running for Sonoma County Supervisor. Not only could this be a disaster for the Eel ecosystem...

The Trinity Divide/Lakehead Fuel Break Project proposes to remove up to 60–70% of the forest canopy from nearly 2,000 acres within a 2,538-acre project area in Northern California without a full environmental review. This area is a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot and a primary wildlife corridor surrounded by heavily logged private timberlands.

On May 14, EPIC-sponsored legislation AB 2494 that will end the commercial logging mandate in all state forests, including the Jackson Demonstration State Forest, will be heard in its second committee hearing in the California State Legislature. The Assembly Appropriations Committee will vote on the bill, deciding whether it continues the process through the legislature to eventually get signed into law by Governor Newsom.

The California State Water Resources Control Board decides how water in our rivers is shared between farms, cities, and fish. Right now, they are deciding how much water must stay in the Shasta River to protect salmon by establishing baseline minimum flows.