Welcome to California River Watch
I find some hope for the future of our planet in the emergence of millions of unconnected environmental and social movements. The leaderless Anarchy of this mass phenomenon and its macro scale means that its cells will not be centrally controlled or turned aside by profit motives. It seems to be a genuine grass roots response to the global threat which our planet faces. —Paul Hawken «
“Fix it in your constitution that no corporation, no body of men, no capital can get possession and right to your waters. Hold the waters in the hands of the people.”
John Wesley Powell 1890 North Dakota Constitutional Convention
River Watch
Worrisome chemical found in Bay Area, Santa Cruz creeks
By Kurtis Alexander, Staff WriterOct 26, 2026 Six years ago, scientists in the Pacific Northwest untangled a mystery about why salmon were dying in the region, often in astonishing numbers — with as many as 90% of the migrating adult coho salmon perishing in parts of Puget Sound. The culprit turned out to be a toxic […]
Yale Experts Explain PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’
May 20, 2025 PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” have emerged as a serious environmental and public health threat due to their persistence and widespread contamination. These man-made chemicals, widely utilized in consumer and industrial products since World War II, are now linked to alarming levels of contamination in drinking water supplies and health risks […]
Where rivers meet the sea: How estuaries protect our water
Shielding communities from flooding and sea level rise, while filtering toxins, these critical coastal water bodies need protection. For more information, contactNick Cahill From Humboldt Bay south to San Diego Bay, California is home to about 1.3 million acres of bays and estuaries, including three of national significance: Morro Bay, Santa Monica Bay and the […]
‘Nature-Based’ Solutions Could Save Insurers and Policyholders Billions
Wetlands restoration and wildfire prevention can drive down insurers’ costs and skyrocketing premiums, a new study shows. By Emmett Gartner October 3, 2026 After years trudging through marshes around San Francisco Bay studying conservation practices, coastal ecologist Megan Kelso realized that one of the largest determinants of wetland health may not be an invasive species […]