California Tribes Sign Historic Agreement to Restore Clear Lake Watershed

The California Natural Resources Agency has announced a new partnership among the state’s tribal, state, and local governments to restore the Clear Lake watershed through shared stewardship of lands, waters, and native species. The partnership marks one of the biggest agreements of its kind and reflects a shared commitment to improve watershed health and biodiversity. For tribes in California, it is a move toward protecting the ancestral homelands of the Pomo and Lake Miwok people and the health and future of the culturally important fish relative Chi (Ṣátti). The agreement acknowledges that federally recognized tribal governments are sovereign partners whose leadership strengthens restoration efforts. Read the California Natural Resources Agency press release and watch the video.

Four of the seven tribes forming the new partnership are or have been community partners of First Nations: Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake; Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California; Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians; and Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians. We celebrate this good news for these tribes and for all of Indian Country and the future of tribal co-stewardship and co-management agreements.