Restoring the River in Gualala

Join the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy for a community event celebrating the Gualala River and connect with those who are working to protect it.

At 2:00PM, Eric Wilder, former chairman of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, will open the event with a Kashia Pomo song and talk about the cultural significance of the Gualala River.

This will be followed by a panel discussion with RCLC and scientists from Prunuske Chatham, Inc. (PCI) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on early design concepts aimed at improving fish habitat in the Gualala River estuary.

Panelists include:

• Matt Erickson – Fisheries Biologist and Grant Manager, CDFW. With over 30 years of experience in salmon management and habitat restoration, Matt plays a key role in the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program.
• Carrie Lukacic – Principal Environmental Planner, PCI. Specializing in CEQA/NEPA compliance and environmental permitting, Carrie manages complex land management and restoration projects from concept to implementation.
• Lauren Hammack – Geomorphologist, PCI. An expert in stream restoration design, Lauren brings 20 years of experience applying geomorphology, ecology, and hydrology to create effective, stakeholder-informed restoration solutions.
• Moderated by Jim Elias, Executive Director, Redwood Coast Land Conservancy

A Q&A session with the panelists will follow the discussion. You can ask questions in person or submit them online here.

Throughout the afternoon , explore the river’s history, find out who won the Gualala River Community Photo Contest, enjoy light refreshments, and celebrate the importance of the river in our community.

Try Your Hand at Gyotaku Fish Printing: Discover the traditional Japanese art of Gyotaku, which originated in the early 1800s as a way for fishermen to document their catches. In this hands-on activity, you’ll use life-like rubber fish to create your very own fish print—while learning about the fascinating fish species found in our local waters.

Stop by educational booths to connect with state, federal, and local partners, including CDFW, Friends of the Gualala River, the Gualala River Stream Team, the Gualala River Watershed Council, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and more.

This work is part of a collaborative restoration effort funded by CDFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program.