We are looking for people with experience in the following areas: non-profit governance; conservation science; financial management; environmental law; policy development; fundraising; and event planning. Current EPIC Members* may apply to become a Board Member between July 1 and July 31 for the next Board of Director’s year, which begins on January 1. Prospective candidates are asked to fill out an application (available online or in hard-copy format at the office), describi

Tolowa Dunes State Park, in Del Norte County, is an ancient dune system that provides important habitat for migratory wildlife. EPIC and other conservation groups see a need to remove old livestock fencing from the Park for wildlife, cultural, and wilderness aesthetic improvements. Funded by the California State Parks Foundation, this report, written by Biologist Adam Canter, documents current ecological restoration and livestock fence removal efforts. Project Abstract and Go

“The North Coast community deserves a project that does not put salmon and the Smith River at risk, as well as an honest assessment of the impacts of highway development on the region,” said Natalynne DeLapp with EPIC. “This is an opportunity for Caltrans to reassess whether this project is in the best interests of taxpayers and the environment.” Caltrans is attempting to widen narrow sections of highways 197 and 199 along the Smith River in California’s remote Del Norte Coun

More than 75 scientists recently requested that the President direct his Secretary of Agriculture and Chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to craft a National Old Growth Conservation Policy that fully protects the remaining old-growth forests on all national forests. The signatories include PhD professors from throughout the country and Canada, retired state and federal resource agency biologists and two former USFS Chiefs. The Federal Forest Carbon Coalition—a new first-o

The Forest Service needs to refrain from adding routes and motorized trails to the road system that occur within occupied sensitive plant habitat as well as fully analyze and disclose the impacts of foreseeable illegal off-road use. In addition, the Forest Service must disclose the actual efficacy of agency road gating, blocking, and closure mechanisms. Furthermore, the final travel management decision must contain meaningful and substantive protections for Port Orford cedar

Connect Wild Places, and to oppose the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. At this event, we quickly realized that people are deeply concerned with the fate of our environment, and want to know what is going on, and how they can contribute towards safeguarding the ecosystems that we all depend upon. We greatly appreciate these opportunities where we get to know the roots of our community and build the lifelong bonds that fuel our work. For those of you who do not have the opportunit

USBR Construction of pump station at Delta-Mendota Canal Take action now to stop the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. The $67 billion infrastructure project proposes to construct two massive tunnels that would funnel water from Northern to Southern California. The Plan calls itself a comprehensive conservation strategy aimed at protecting dozens of species of fish and wildlife, but in reality the 40,000 page document fails to disclose major irreversible impacts to fish, rivers an

Over the past few weeks, EPIC has worked to protect wolves in California, stood up to big timber companies, advocated for the Wild and Scenic rivers and endangered species, protected Northern Spotted Owls, opposed the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, requested amendments to groundwater legislation, and worked to protect water quality on timber lands. The documents below are a sample of our efforts to protect the wildlife, forests and watersheds of the North Coast. Several of thes

The group discussing forest policy. This week, EPIC staff and interns visited active and proposed timber operations on Humboldt Redwood Company (HRC) lands in the Mattole Valley. Logging operations on HRC lands along the north fork the Mattole River have been at the center of recent protests and public scrutiny. The controversy over HRC’s timber harvest operations on Long Ridge in the Mattole Valley has arisen out of concerns that the company is logging old growth and harvest

Two of OR-7’s pups peek out from behind the log. Rogue National Forest. Photo courtesy of USFWS. Great news for wolves! Early this afternoon, the California State Fish and Game Commission voted three to one to grant protections to Gray Wolves under the California Endangered Species Act. The decision came after three hours of testimony from nearly two hundred members of the public, many of who were dressed in gray and wearing paper hats shaped and painted like wolves. One espe

Comments to urge Del Norte County to better analyze the Tryon Bridge replacement project – As proposed, this project would result in impacts to the Smith River and steelhead, coho and chinook salmon populations. California Drought Bill letter – The Drought Bill (HR 3964), proposes to waive major elements of state and federal environmental laws and de-designates a portion of the Merced wild and scenic river. EPIC has joined the Environmental Water Caucus in calling on Represen

The California Fish and Game Commission is coming to Fortuna and wants to hear from you. Attend the hearing in person on Wednesday, June 4th, at 8:30am at the Fortuna River Lodge (1800 Riverwalk Drive in Fortuna), and ask Commissioners to give wolves full state protection under the California Endangered Species Act. Come early for a rally starting at 7:30am, bring signs and wear gray to show your support for listing. All events are kid friendly, free and open to the public. H

A Happy Camp resident who has been observing this pair raising their young every year for the past 24 years, alerted EPIC last week. The adult eagles have shown very erratic behavior and have been heard screeching in distress every day logging has occurred. We contacted the ranger, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the wildlife biologist to understand why and by what legal authority allowed the Klamath National Forest to risk killing the nestlings. Although there were limi

Northern District Court judge James Donato issued a preliminary injunction late Friday enjoining Caltrans from any further work on a controversial highway-widening project along the wild and scenic Smith River Canyon, until a court hearing scheduled for November 19. The judge cited substantial procedural violations of the Endangered Species Act and the potential for irreparable harm to endangered coho salmon and their critical habitat in the Smith River if the project goes fo

Since 1977, using an integrated science-based approach that combines public education, citizen advocacy and strategic litigation, EPIC has been working to ensure that state and federal agencies follow their mandate to uphold environmental law. If you are not already a member, please support our work by making a donation to help us protect and restore the ancient forests, watersheds, coastal estuaries and endangered species in Northwest California. Our organization has survive

Remote camera photo from July 21, 2013, documenting three pups in the newly formed Mt Emily pack. -Oregon Fish and Wildlife- The importance of recovery of viable populations of wolves on the landscapes of Northern California has been clear to EPIC since before the first time the famous lone wolf “Journey” crossed over into California two years ago. Since that moment, EPIC has dedicated important time and resources to engaging in stakeholder processes and endangered species ad

The suit alleged that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) operated the hatchery illegally because it lacked an approved plan from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The suit also alleged that the millions of hatchery fish released into the Trinity harm threatened wild salmon runs. “This settlement shows the commitment of a broad array of stakeholders in the Trinity basin to insure that hatchery operations su

How much more evidence do we need until entrusted representatives and forest, wildlife and water managers work together to change the direction of this crisis we are in? How many decades do we need to learn the same lessons? We can and we must act now to protect and connect wild places! Conserving and connecting habitat is the number one goal of the National Fish, Animal and Plants Climate Adaption Strategy, “Sustaining a diversity of healthy populations over time requires co

The original public comment period was scheduled to close on March 26, 2014, but due to the requests of EPIC and others, the Navy extended the public comment period until April 15th.  In that time, EPIC alone was able to gather 6,203 comments and petition signatures from individuals to protect marine life from Navy Sonar and weapons testing in the Pacific Ocean. The public will have the opportunity to review the Navy’s responses to comments when the Final EIS is available, wh

Wednesday, May 7th EPIC hosts author Kim Stanley Robinson #EPIC #HSU #KimStanley #NorthtownBooks