Tribal-led restoration economy infrastructure in the redwoods bioregion

In the wake of the largest dam removal in U.S. history on the Klamath River, and with the Eel River dam removals approaching in 2027, Northern California is entering one of the most significant watershed restoration efforts of our time. For Tribal Nations, this moment is about far more than ecological recovery. It is about rebuilding Indigenous stewardship economies rooted in land, culture, and long-term care for place.

The Blue Lake Rancheria is stepping forward to help lead this transition through the creation of Blue Lake Tribal Restoration LLC, a tribally owned restoration enterprise designed to supply native plants, ecological restoration services, and Indigenous land management expertise across the North Coast redwoods region.

Today, more than $100 million annually is flowing into regional restoration work, yet there is currently no Native-led commercial nursery serving the region. Financial support for Blue Lake Tribal Restoration helps close that gap while ensuring restoration is guided by the communities who have stewarded these landscapes since time immemorial.

By supporting this effort, we are investing in sovereign infrastructure for the emerging restoration economy: greenhouses, propagation systems, native seed storage, workforce development, and long-term Indigenous stewardship capacity. Support now will help build the foundation for tribally led restoration at a scale not seen in generations.

This is not simply about planting trees. It is about creating the economic foundations for land rematriation, cultural renewal, ecological healing, and resilient regional economies that can endure for generations to come.