2026 February eNewsletter

In this eNewsletter you will find:

Conference registration is open for the 43rd Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference that will be held in Redding, California from April 28 - May 1, 2026. All presentations will be in person. 

The 2026 Conference Agenda is posted and registration is online.

This 2-day workshop focuses on preparing individuals to work through the challenges of developing and managing a successful dam removal project. The goal is to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence of potential project managers to allow them to lead both straightforward and more complex projects that often involve engaging with active project opponents; working through unpredictable regulatory processes; significant fundraising; and coordinating a team of diverse project partners, property owners, engineers, and contractors. Topics include river science, the basics of dam removal design and construction, project identification and scoping, and managing stakeholder engagement. The training will culminate in a tour of a local dam removal site and discussions with partners actively engaged in on-the-ground dam removal projects. Learn more here.

Join River Partners and Cal Trout on a tour of riparian restoration projects on lower Battle Creek. Stops include an ongoing project with the Bureau of Land Management which is restoring 340 acres of mixed riparian woodland. The vegetation is being restored in advance of the next project phase which will increase the frequency and duration of floodplain inundation to benefit juveniles of all four runs of Chinook Salmon in the Sacramento watershed. This unique spot on the landscape is vital to the recovery of the federally endangered winter-run Chinook Salmon. The 2nd stop is a 20+ year old riparian restoration project on CDFW’s Battle Creek Wildlife Area in which the existing water infrastructure has been replumbed so that off channel wetlands restored in 2005 can be used to cycle critical aquatic food resources for juvenile salmon in Battle Creek in several pulses throughout the wet season. At both stops the project team and partners will talk about the past, present, and future challenges and opportunities of transformational, landscape scale restoration to benefit our native fish species. 

Thanks to the generous contributions from members and co-sponsors, like the Israel Foundation, SRF is able to continue conference scholarship opportunities this year. Scholarships are specifically for underrepresented members of the watershed restoration field, tribal members, students, and rural landowners. If you would like to contribute to the conference scholarship fund, you may do so here.

To apply for a scholarship, please fill out this form by February 12, which includes a 200-word explanation of why you would like to attend the SRF Conference, how it would benefit the work / studies you are doing, and how you anticipate applying what you learn. Visit our FAQ page for more information regarding the application process and deadlines.

The Poster Session will be 7-10 pm on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at Redding Civic Auditorium, the main Conference venue. This annual event is open to all registered conference attendees and is a great venue to network with your peers.

There is still time to become a sponsor of  the 43rd Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference through sponsorship. Co-sponsors are recognized in all conference materials, receive complimentary conference passes, and help keep the conference affordable for practitioners. See the co-sponsor appeal letter for information about support levels.

For more information on timelines,  lodging, scholarship opportunities, etc. please check out our FAQs.

The Scott Watershed Informational Forum (SWIF) is an event focused on discussing, sharing information, and addressing issues related to the Scott River watershed and Klamath River Basin. See the schedule and RSVP here.

CalTrout is seeking an experienced and strategic Regional Director to oversee conservation efforts in the North Coast region. The North Coast Director is responsible for leading regional initiatives, setting and achieving conservation goals, managing staff and partnerships, and delivering on CalTrout’s mission to ensure resilient wild fish in healthy waters. Learn more and apply here.

This five-day course will focus on  geomorphic and ecological processes in project planning and river restoration design. Incorporating insights from recent research in fluvial geomorphology and ecology, the course emphasizes developing predictive connections between objectives and actions, learning from built restoration projects and developing restoration strategies and innovative management approaches to address underlying causes of channel or ecosystem change rather than prescriptive approaches.

Register by May 31 to take advantage of the early bird rate.

SRF hosts a Job Board on our website to post current positions related to California's fisheries and  watershed restoration field.  Please email info@calsalmon.org to post a job on our webpage.

You can support SRF by donating, becoming a member, or purchasing SRF merchandise.