Yurok Tribe Reclaims 47,000 Acres of Sacred Land in California’s Largest Landback Deal
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📰 The quick summary: The Yurok Tribe has reclaimed 17,000 acres of sacred land around the Klamath River in Northern California, completing a 47,097-acre transfer that effectively doubles the tribe’s land holdings and creates a permanent salmon sanctuary.
📈 One key stat: The 47,097-acre land transfer is the largest landback deal in California history, allowing the Yurok Tribe to reclaim territory lost during the gold rush when they lost 90 percent of their land.
💬 One key quote: “No words can describe how we feel knowing that our land is coming back to the ownership of the Yurok people,” said Joseph James, the chairman of the Yurok Tribal Council.
1️⃣ The big picture: The Yurok Tribe has successfully completed the largest landback deal in California history, reclaiming 17,000 acres of sacred land around the Klamath River. This final parcel completes a $56 million, 47,097-acre land transfer that effectively doubles the tribe’s current land holdings. The deal comes just months after the removal of four dams on the Klamath River, the largest dam removal project in US history, which has already allowed salmon to swim upstream to spawn for the first time in over a century. The land includes critical salmon habitat, particularly Blue Creek, an essential cold-water tributary where salmon can cool off before heading further upstream.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This historic land return preserves critical redwood forests that help protect against climate change and provide crucial habitat for endangered species like the marbled murrelet and northern spotted owl. The protection of Blue Creek, a cold-water tributary, creates an essential cooling zone for salmon migrating upstream to spawn following the recent removal of four dams on the Klamath River. The timing was perfect as the transfer protected these forests just before a new round of timber harvesting would have begun. Studies show conservation goals are more effectively met when Indigenous peoples manage their own territories, creating a sustainable model for future conservation efforts across the country.
3️⃣ What’s next: The Yurok Tribe has already designated the land as a salmon sanctuary and community forest. They plan to put the land into a trust and care for it in perpetuity. Restoration will involve various projects from stream restoration to road maintenance, with tribal officials committed to doing everything possible to protect the environment.
Read the full story here: Grist – In California’s largest landback deal, the Yurok Tribe reclaims sacred land around Klamath River
