Protect the Trinity River from excessive water diversions

Trinity River, California | Aaron Martin

The Trinity River has significant cultural, ecological, and economic value to people far beyond its place in the Klamath watershed. The Hoopa Valley and Yurok Tribes continue to steward the Trinity River, as they have since time immemorial. Their leadership and advocacy of the Trinity, and all life that depends on it, has ranged from the banks of the river, to the courtroom, to the White House, and has been critical to the river’s protection. However, excessive diversions into the Sacramento Basin to supply California’s Central Valley water users threaten the Trinity River and are ignoring Tribal and other local water rights.

“For the Hoopa Valley people, the river is a lifeline for us. We eat out of the river. Some people go to the store, we go to the river. It used to be one of the best fishing rivers in the West Coast.” - Dania Rose Colegrove, Hoopa Valley Tribal member and Klamath Justice Coalition organizer

Irresponsible water use, neglect, and incompetence in Trinity River restoration and management have put the river, Coho salmon – a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) – and community livelihood at extreme risk. The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are in violation of the ESA through unlawful, ongoing operations of the Trinity River Hatchery.

Please write in support of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, imploring the USBR to meet their legal responsibilities to protect tribal rights and enforce the ESA.

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Secretary

Deb

Haaland

Department of the Interior

Dear Secretary Haaland,

My name is {user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name} and I’m writing in support of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, the Trinity River, and all Pacific Coast communities that depend on the Trinity’s fish and wildlife resources. American Rivers designated the Trinity River as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2025 due to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s mismanagement of federal dams and reservoirs that divert Trinity water to California’s Central Valley for industrial, agricultural, and other uses. In spite of numerous laws that protect the Trinity, the Reclamation’s irresponsible water use, neglect of tribal rights and fisheries, and management of Trinity River salmon restoration – including Coho salmon, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act – have put communities and livelihoods that depend on them at extreme risk.

The fishing industry and Native communities who have depended on salmon for sustenance and ceremony since time immemorial, now depend more than ever on your leadership. We call on you to act promptly to protect tribal rights and the rivers and ecosystems of California by enforcing the laws enacted for their benefit.

Thank you for your commitment to upholding tribal rights and protecting California’s rivers.

Sincerely,

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