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The Mattole Salmon Group was founded in 1980 by concerned community members who recognized that the native salmon population was dwindling rapidly. Since the Mattole Salmon Group was founded, it has evolved to include extensive habitat and species monitoring programs, large bank stabilization and habitat enhancement projects throughout the Mattole watershed, community outreach events and participation in environmental education projects, and a wide range of additional projects benefiting the watershed in cooperation with other local groups. Throughout this evolution, the Mattole Salmon Group has maintained its backbone of grassroots community support. Please explore our programs, history and opportunities for involvement for further information.

The Mattole estuary at sunset, May 2007

Sperm Whale Beached Near Mouth of the Mattole!

A young sperm whale washed up at the Mattole beach around February 24, 2008. According to a Humboldt State University biologist, the whale was a young male (around 10 years old) nearing sexual maturity. It was 10.8 meters (over 35 feet) long.

Sperm whales, one of the largest toothed whale species, eat mostly squid and fish (and occasionally a marine mammal). Adult male sperm whales can grow to be 60 feet long! This is the second young sperm whale to wash up on California's North Coast in less than a month. Another whale was beached in Crescent City.