About Us

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The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is "working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.' We carry out the Service’s mission through four programs: Ecological Services, Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation, Habitat Restoration, and Science Applications. Our work spans the beautiful towering redwoods of northwestern California, the foggy shores of the Pacific, and includes majestic watersheds such as the Klamath River.

Our History

Welcome, to the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office (AFWO) in Arcata, California. This office was established in 1977 by Gary Rankel.  The AFWO staff consists of fisheries and wildlife biologists, technicians, and support personnel who conduct a variety of conservation activities applicable to Northwest California. AFWO's diverse workload responsibility includes field research and monitoring, regulatory and advisory roles in various federal agencies, habitat conservation planning on nonfederal lands, permit review, and many other biological related activities.