In July 2025, the Yurok Tribe of Northern California finalized a historic agreement that returns 47,000 acres of forest land along the Blue Creek watershed—one of the most sacred and ecologically important areas in their ancestral territory.
The land was transferred by Western Rivers Conservancy, with support from the State of California, philanthropy partners, and the Save the Redwoods League. The effort is one of the largest tribal land repatriations in state history and restores Yurok stewardship over old-growth redwoods, salmon habitats, and ceremonial grounds.
“This is more than land. It’s our identity, our history, and our future,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers.
Why this land matters:
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Blue Creek is a spiritual lifeline for the Yurok people and a vital migration corridor for salmon.
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The land includes redwoods, oak woodlands, and hundreds of plant and animal species.
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The Yurok plan to implement fire-informed land management, traditional ecological knowledge, and cultural revitalization activities on the land.
This transfer follows more than a decade of advocacy by the Yurok Tribe and demonstrates how partnerships rooted in justice and sovereignty can reshape conservation and restoration efforts.
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San Francisco Chronicle coverage
