California native tribes lead charge that will open up one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the US

Dam, girl. The Eel River is set to become one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the United States after a five-year fight over what to do with dams on the river, spearheaded by California native tribes. Spanning five counties and linking Humboldt to regional and statewide water resources, the massive waterway traces 200 miles north of Mendocino National Forest and empties into the Pacific Ocean. It’s also a sacred resource of the Wiyot Tribe with deep cultural connections to both the river and its fisheries, according to Humboldt’s city website. In fact, 398 river miles are designated as recreational, scenic, or wild under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. A computer-generated rendering shows what the Eel River may look like if the Cape Horn dam in Mendocino is removed. Eel-R