March 19, 2024: Leaders from Save the Redwoods League, the Yurok Tribe, National Park Service, and California State Parks commemorate the signing of a landmark agreement describing our shared vision for the future ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway. Photo by Evan-Marie Petit, @evanmariepetit.
From left: Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League; Steve Mietz, superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks; Joseph L. James, chairman of the Yurok Tribe; and Victor Bjelajac, superintendent of California State Parks’ North Coast Redwoods District sign a historic agreement describing our shared commitment to transfer the ‘O Rew property in 2026 from Save the Redwoods League back to its original steward, the Yurok Tribe. Photo by Evan-Marie Petit, @evanmariepetit.
From left, Joseph L. James, chairman of the Yurok Tribe; Rosie Clayburn, tribal heritage preservation officer of the Yurok Tribe; Jessica Carter, director of parks and public engagement of Save the Redwoods League; and Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League, walk among native plants planted as part of a revegetation effort at ‘O Rew. Photo by Evan-Marie Petit, @evanmariepetit.
From left: Rosie Clayburn, tribal heritage preservation officer of the Yurok Tribe and Joseph L. James, chairman of the Yurok Tribe, view a young tree planted as part of habitat restoration efforts at ‘O Rew. Photo by Evan-Marie Petit, @evanmariepetit.
Project partners gather to kick off the Prairie Creek restoration in 2021. The ongoing ecological restoration is part of the exciting vision for ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway. Photo by CalTrout/Michael Wier.
Restoring Prairie Creek to ecological integrity is part of the ambitious vision for the 125-acre ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway, which represents a first-ever model for tribal, federal, and state co-management of nationally significant land, with an Indigenous tribe at the helm. Photo by CalTrout/Michael Wier.
A redwoods sawmill once operated on the ‘O Rew property, formerly known as the Orick Mill Site. When the League acquired the property in 2013, acres of asphalt remained. Photo by Paolo Vescia, Save the Redwoods League.
Indigenous crews with the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation removed more than 10 football fields of asphalt from their ancestral lands. Photo by CalTrout/Michael Wier.
Crews with the Yurok Tribe and California Trout work to restore a 1,000-foot section of Prairie Creek for salmon-rearing habitat. Photo by CalTrout/Michael Wier.
Matt Williams, ‘O Rew restoration project lead for the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation. Photo by Kyle Cooper, Save the Redwoods League.
Indigenous crews with the Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation work on their ancestral land to restore a degraded section of Prairie Creek. Photo by CalTrout/Michael Wier.
Crews with the Yurok Tribe and California Trout lined the streambank of Prairie Creek with biodegradable netting ahead of a two-month-long replanting effort that placed over 50,000 native plants in fall 2023. Photo by CalTrout/Michael Wier.
The future ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway will be conveniently located off U.S. Highway 101, at the southern end of Redwood National and State Parks. Photo by CalTrout/Michael Wier.
A rendering of the future ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway, to include robust visitor amenities and new trails that will connect to Redwood National and State Parks. After the 2026 transfer, the Yurok Tribe aims to construct a visitor and cultural center and a traditional village on-site. Image by Studio+5411.
Trails from ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway will connect visitors to the popular Lady Bird Johnson Grove, home to some of the tallest trees on the planet. Photo by lightphoto2/AdobeStock.
Habitat restoration efforts at ‘O Rew have already benefitted local wildlife, including the majestic Roosevelt elk that visit the property. Photo by Max Forster, courtesy of Save the Redwoods League.
