North Coast community forum to oppose proposed offshore leasing plan

Local residents, advocacy groups and elected officials will gather Sunday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. in the Wharfinger Building in Eureka for a community forum opposing the U.S. Department of the Interior’s proposal to consider new offshore oil and gas leasing off California, including North Coast waters, in its federal 2026–2031 planning proposal.

The event, organized by the Environmental Protection Information Center, will include participation by Representative Jared Huffman, Assemblymembers Damon Connolly and Chris Rogers, Humboldt Waterkeeper, Surfrider Foundation, the Center for Biological Diversity and other local officials. Organizers say the forum is intended to build public opposition and press federal decision-makers to remove North Coast waters from leasing consideration. “Community members will unite to display their support for protecting the North Coast from new offshore oil and gas development,” organizers stated.

The proposed inclusion of California waters in the Interior Department’s planning cycle has local leaders and environmental groups warning of potential risks to fisheries, coastal economies and public health. Offshore leasing and development, opponents say, increase the chance of oil spills that can devastate commercial and tribal fisheries, harm marine wildlife and disrupt the tourism economy that much of Humboldt County depends on. Air and water pollution associated with oil operations can also worsen respiratory and cardiovascular health for shoreline communities, including those already facing disproportionate environmental burdens.

For Humboldt County, the debate is about more than conservation. Local fishers, tourism operators and tribal communities could face economic displacement and public health stressors if development moves forward. Advocates frame the fight as one of environmental justice, arguing that frontline coastal communities should not shoulder the greatest risks for fossil fuel extraction that contributes to climate harms experienced nationwide.

The forum aims to marshal testimony, coordinate local messaging and outline actionable steps residents can take as the federal planning process moves forward. Organizers ask attendees to register on Eventbrite ahead of the meeting and to come prepared to speak or listen to community testimony.

State and federal timelines for the 2026–2031 leasing plan mean public input now can affect what areas are included for potential development. Humboldt County’s coastal identity and economy are tied to a healthy ocean and shoreline, and residents at the Wharfinger Building meeting will be making a case that protecting the North Coast is both an environmental and public health priority.

The takeaway? If you care about clean water, fishable beaches and coastal livelihoods, show up or register on Eventbrite, bring your neighbors and make your voice heard, and bring a jacket, it’s January on the waterfront.