ABOUT US
Above photo by Thomas B. Dunklin
Pacific Coast Fish, Wildlife and Wetlands Restoration Association (a.k.a Pacific Coast Restoration) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) with the mission "To restore, enhance, and protect the fish, wildlife, and wetland resources of the pacific coast region for the benefit of existing and future generations. To accomplish these goals through working with both public and private landowners, responsible government agencies, and other groups and organizations with like objectives."
Founded in 1991, Pacific Coast Restoration is an innovator in all aspects of restoring native habitats across California’s Northcoast region. We focus on estuary, riparian, fish passage, and sediment reduction projects to restore watershed function and improve vital habitat for imperiled fish and wildlife populations in high priority watersheds, those with the best potential for positive results.
HOW WE STARTED
Mitch Farro
Founder, Project Manager
I’ve been fascinated by natural places for as far back as I can remember. Whether it was the river and its salmon, or marshes and their waterfowl, those were the places I just had to explore with that first bit of liberty that came with a bike and being a kid in the 60’s. Smitten by the beauty and freedom of the ocean as a teen I started fishing for salmon in the ocean on a small commercial boat with a friend and his father. I felt lucky I was able to earn my living at 24 by running fishing boats along the rugged coastline of Northern California.
With those experiences came the obvious realization that wetlands were disappearing and the river’s abundance of salmon was dwindling in my lifetime. My hope was to be able to give something back and that sustained me not just economically but also spiritually. It has become a multi-decade journey to be effective at healing the landscape and habitats for fish and wildlife. That is in essence what our organization is all about: doing the “hands on… on the ground” work it takes if we are going to have that wild abundance in our future.
For more information about our work, see our enewsletters, project highlights, or full list of projects.
The projects we perform would not be possible without the hard work and support of numerous partners, funders, and subcontractors. Here are a few that we have worked with:
Engineering, Environmental, Geological, and Fisheries Consultants
Pacific Watershed Associates
Michael Love and Associates
Ross Taylor and Associates
Aldaron Laird, Trinity Associates Environmental Planning
Fiori Geosciences
Gedik Biological Associates
LACO Associates
GHD
State, Federal and Local Government Agencies
California Coastal Conservancy
California Conservation Corps
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Department of Transportation
California Regional Water Quality Control Board
California State Water Resources Control Board
Del Norte, Humboldt, and Trinity Counties
Fisheries Restoration Grant Program
Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District
Humboldt County Resource Conservation District
Humboldt State University Foundation
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Park Service
National Resources Conservation Service
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service
Wildlife Conservation Board
Yurok Tribal Government
Road Decommissioning, Heavy Equipment and Labor Contractors
Stephens Construction
Wallace Structures
Big R Manufacturing LLC
Brown Construction
Environmental Restoration Services
Kernen Construction
McCanless Excavating and Earth Care
Mullins Restoration
Nehalem Marine
Rocky Brown Construction
Tom McKnight Construction
Forest Products Companies
Barnum Timber Company
Green Diamond Resource Company
Civic and Public Interest Groups
California Waterfowl Association
California Trout
Eel River Watershed Improvement Group
Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers
Humboldt Fish Action Council
Humboldt Fishermen’s Marketing Association
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Orick Chamber of Commerce
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations
Redwood Community Action Agency
Redwood Creek Watershed Group
Resources Legacy Fund Foundation, Preserving Wild California Program
Salmonid Restoration Federation
Save the Redwoods League
Smith River Alliance
Smith River Advisory Council
Trinidad Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Trout Unlimited
PCFWWRA has also worked with numerous small private landowners.