The Smith River Alliance (SRA) and California Trout have been partners since 1980 in the protection of the Smith River – California's only completely undammed river system and the state’s premier salmon stronghold. For decades, SRA and CalTrout have been raising the bar to achieve the best protection possible for this gem of California rivers.
The Smith's wild and strong runs of salmon and steelhead exemplify CalTrout's core belief that abundant wild fish are the key indicator of healthy waters. A few of the many actions taken by CalTrout, SRA and others over the years to safeguard this California jewel include:
• Securing designation of 325 miles in the National Wild and Scenic
River System, one of the longest stretches of any river.
• Leading a project that established the 460+ square mile Smith River National Recreation Area. This was in response to the threat of strip mines in the basin and as a way to improve protection of forest land under U.S. Forest Service management.
The SRA Team includes three full-time staff and twelve part-time and seasonal field biologists and professionals supported by an average annual budget of $950,000. In the last 15 years SRA has been a key partner or lead in the acquisition and permanent protection of over 40,000 acres of land and secured over $7. 8 million in watershed restoration grants.