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Sea Level Rise at the Arcata Marsh

“Sea Level Rise: North Unit of the Arcata Marsh,” an exhibition of photographs by Aldaron Laird, is on display through February at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center, 569 South G St. in Arcata. Hours are Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Waterkeeper Alliance

The international Waterkeeper Alliance connects local Waterkeeper programs to provide a voice for waterways and their communities worldwide. To champion clean water and strong communities, Waterkeeper Alliance advocates for issues common to Waterkeeper programs.

Each Waterkeeper program is an independent organization that reflects the needs of the waterbody and community it represents. The common thread for each Waterkeeper program is a person who serves as the public advocate for that body of water.

Waterkeepers are part investigator, scientist, lawyer, and advocate who represent all the users of the watershed who rely on clean water. All Waterkeepers also have a boat ranging in size from canoes to research vessels, but sometimes a pair of hip boots is more important than a boat. Sometimes a legal brief is more important than either. Each waterbody has its own unique challenges requiring a distinct and well-defined strategy.

Contact Humboldt Waterkeeper

Humboldt Waterkeeper

Mailing Address:

600 F Street, Suite 3 #810

Arcata, CA 95521

Physical Address:

145 G Street, Suite A

Arcata, CA 95521

707.499.3678

Jennifer Kalt, Executive Director

707.499.3678

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Jasmin Segura, Bay Tours Coordinator

707.601.1142

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Sylvia van Royen, GIS and Policy Analyst

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Humboldt County Supervisors move to prohibit data and detention centers, onshore deep-sea mining facilities

This Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors considered a petition from Planning and Building Department staff to address public concerns regarding data centers, detention centers and onshore oil and deep-sea mining facilities. The board considered temporary moratoriums, outright prohibitions and other regulatory frameworks for each type of facility.

Ultimately, supervisors instructed staff to return with items that would prohibit onshore support facilities for deep-sea mining and oil operations as well as private detention facilities. The board also instructed staff to return with a temporary moratorium on future data centers, with supervisors citing concerns that an outright ban might be too broad and preclude developments like the Eureka Cable Landing Station in Arcata, a relatively small-scale facility that has been considered a boon to the area’s economy and infrastructure without the serious deleterious effects that many communities have reported experiencing from data centers.

The board could not move forward on Tuesday with any “action to disallow, writ large, these uses,” Supervisor Natalie Arroyo clarified. Those prohibitions and the moratorium will return to the board of supervisors in the future.

Public input

Several speakers addressed the topic of data, detention and onshore sea-mining support facilities (though attendance may have been limited as the topic was in the seventh hour of the supervisors’ meeting).

Jennifer Kalt, executive director of Humboldt Waterkeeper, called to thank the board for considering regulations on offshore mining support facilities and urged the board to enact a prohibition. She noted that a renewed appetite for expanded offshore oil leasing off the California coast — as well as known deposits of valuable deep-sea minerals off the Humboldt County coast — made an ordinance particularly necessary and timely.

Sabra Steinberg, a “longtime resident of Humboldt County,” spoke on the subject of data centers. She sadi that the Union of Concerned Scientists recently hosted a webinar on the subject and noted that, while there are currently six bills working their way through the state legislature, there are very few regulations currently in place to protect citizens from issues like “24-hour-a-day noise, the commandeering of water … and skyrocketing electricity rates for communities.”

Krista Boardman, an Arcata resident who works in Eureka’s visitor center, told the board that she discusses life in Humboldt County with visitors and residents all day; she never hears people discuss an appetite for extractive industry or data and detention centers.

“We know why people love Humboldt. We know why we love Humboldt,” Boardman said. “… I ask that the board pursue a temporary moratorium and prohibit detention facilities, data centers, offshore and deep-sea mining in order to reassure our community, protect our environment, create a blueprint for other communities and to create a legacy that we can be proud of.”

McKinleyville resident Jeff Dunk said, “I think it’s a good idea to, as the previous speaker said, be proactive on some of these things. You don’t want to install a seat belt when you’re in the middle of a car crash. It’s too late, and with some of these things, it is too late for other communities.”

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Eureka Slough Bridge repairs under review by Coastal Commission; Concerns raised over impacts on harbor seals, trail closure amid emergency construction

Caltrans’ emergency effort to stabilize the southbound Eureka Slough Bridge drew scrutiny last week as the California Coastal Commission reviewed the agency’s request for additional emergency authorization and heard concerns about wildlife disturbance near the construction zone.

Shana Gray, North Coast District Deputy Director, reported to the Coastal Commission that deteriorated piles discovered during an April inspection prompted immediate safety measures, including shifting southbound Highway 101 traffic, installing monitoring devices, and beginning construction of a temporary work trestle spanning the slough.

“The situation is active and still evolving,” Gray said. “Caltrans is in active communication with the National Marine Fisheries Service and Commission staff on these protective measures for seals, including the need for additional avoidance and minimization measures. Staff are working closely with Caltrans on this emergency situation, and we plan to report any further emergency actions to the Commission and the public.”

In‑water work and pile driving began on July 7 after Caltrans declared the need for significant structural repairs, including repairs to compromised footings. A second emergency permit has not yet been authorized, and staff said they are still evaluating whether the proposed work is the minimum necessary to address the hazard.

Environmental groups urged the commission to strengthen monitoring requirements for harbor seals that haul out near the mouth of the slough. Jennifer Savage of the Surfrider Foundation raised concerns about potential negative impacts on seals and other wildlife in the construction area.

“We understand the emergency that there are deteriorated bridge piles requiring immediate safety action, but we do share the concerns that Humboldt Waterkeeper raised. I live a few miles from this bridge. I kayak near that slough. I walk my dog on the adjacent trail, so I know the area really well,” said Savage. “I appreciate staff’s update on the plans, as was just reported. I still want to highlight that two harbor seal haulouts sit within one kilometer of the work site in the Eureka Slough.”

Savage shared recent pictures of the seals sitting on the shore of the slough and noted the work coincides with the molting period, when seals rely heavily on undisturbed haulouts.

“The pile driving, the core drilling, the heavy machinery — it all generates acoustic and seismic disturbance that travels quickly underwater,” she said. And this work coincides with the start of the harbor seals’ molting period, when sight-faithful animals most depend on undisturbed haulout time.”

Jen Kalt of Humboldt Waterkeeper raised concerns about repeated water flushes, which can increase stress and the risk of infection.

“We understand the emergency nature of this situation; it’s been very concerning because the harbor seals, as we mentioned in our public comments, are in the very sensitive molting period, where if they get disturbed, they need to go back into the water continuously or frequently, more frequently than they should, which risks infection,” said Kalt. “The draft environmental impact report for this project, the actual bridge replacement project, includes a marine mammal protection plan and hydroacoustic monitoring plan to prevent level B harassment, which is changes in behavior. Caltrans seems to rely on seals moving to unaffected, suitable habitat in the bay, which, in itself, is level B harassment. So, just expecting the seals to relocate to get away from the noise — that is harassment and is really concerning.”

Kalt mentioned pile driving has already begun under an emergency permit the Coastal Commission has not yet reviewed, and urged commissioners to closely examine Caltrans’ hydroacoustic and marine mammal protection plans to ensure impacts to nearby harbor seal haulouts are minimized.

Cal Poly Humboldt Marine Biologist Dawn Goley urged the commission to require detailed hydroacoustic monitoring and real‑time reporting.

“Harbor seals have high site fidelity and are among the most sensitive marine mammals to human disturbance,” said Goley. “They can’t simply relocate to another haulout because those sites are already occupied.”

Goley questioned whether Caltrans has provided the required hydroacoustic monitoring plan to federal regulators and asked how the plan addresses marine mammals’ sensitivities to sound. The speaker said real‑time monitoring, clear reporting protocols and sound‑attenuation systems are critical as construction continues under an emergency permit.

“These questions need to be urgently addressed to avoid disturbance and potential abandonment of important habitat for federally protected marine mammals,” said Goley.

Caltrans spokesperson Myles Cochrane said trestle construction is underway along Highway 101 near Target to give contractor Myers and Sons access to stabilize one of the southbound bridge’s piers. The work, which includes installing new steel piling, is expected to continue through October. He said the agency is balancing structural repairs with environmental protections, noting that crews are maintaining traffic flow while conducting hydroacoustic monitoring, marine mammal surveys, and enforcing shutdown zones during in‑water pile work.

“One of the main challenges in all this is keeping this work going in a sensitive environment while maintaining traffic flow along the busiest stretch of state highway in Humboldt County,” said Cochrane. “During in-water pile work, Caltrans is conducting hydroacoustic and marine mammal monitoring and maintaining a shutdown zone to minimize potential disturbance to harbor seals and other marine mammals.”

Cochrane said the bridge remains open and safe for travel, with southbound lanes shifted slightly to accommodate construction.

“Crews are doing a great job keeping traffic moving as the lanes on the southbound bridge are shifted over a bit. 101 in Eureka is open and safe for travel,” said Cochrane. “We appreciate the public’s patience and encourage drivers to slow down, stay alert, and cruise safely through the cone zone while this job goes on.”

A segment of the Eureka Waterfront Trail beneath the bridge remains closed through mid‑October due to trestle construction. Commission staff said they will report back at the next hearing once the full scope of emergency work is understood.

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