Ronnie M. Pierce

Ronnie M. Pierce

Ronnie M. Pierce, Tribal sovereignty and Klamath water rights leader, passed away in her home in McKinleyville Sunday afternoon February 13, 2005.

Born on May 12, 1942, in Nevada City, CA, to May and Ronald Pierce; she is survived by her brother, Terry Pierce of Manhattan Beach, CA; sister-in-law, Elaine Pierce of El Cajon; nieces, Lisa and Susan Pierce; and leaves behind her partner of 22 years, Elizabeth Finney.

Ronnie began her formal education at Healds Engineering College of San Francisco in 1959 where she was the first woman to receive a degree in structural engineering. She was responsible for overseeing certain aspects of the construction for the Trans America building and several other developments within the Bay Area. She then went to Old Dominion University, Virginia, to receive her Masters of Science in Marine Biology where she graduated Cum Laude in 1978.

Ronnie moved to Humboldt County in 1979 where she founded Pierce Fisheries Consulting. For the past twenty years Ronnie has served as a consulting biologist specializing in Klamath River Basin salmon management issues. She worked within all aspects of Native American salmon management in the Basin relating to Tribal rights issues in restoration, water, and harvest management.

As a tireless leader for Tribal rights issues, Ronnie worked closely with the Karuk and Yurok Tribes, the Inter-Tribal Fish and Water Commission, Northern California Indian Development Council and such federal agencies as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and US Fish and Wildlife Service. The last years of her career were spent towards dam removal within the Basin and retaining essentially needed water for the Klamath River ecosystem.

As a descendant of Pender Harbor, Vancouver and native Squamish pioneers in British Columbia, Ronnie enjoyed researching family history and visiting family members. Besides her consulting work, Ronnie received awards for oil painting and will be remembered by those who commissioned her work. She enjoyed life to the fullest and spent many leisure hours working on restoring the classic Chryslers that her brother Terry helped to design in Detroit. When not cruising downtown, Ronnie could be seen cruising the tables in Reno or the slot machines at local casinos.

Ronnie never buckled under pressure and was uncompromising in her demand for truth. Her expertise was much sought after by Tribal leaders, legislators, environmental leaders, researchers, educators, legal officials and government officials just to mention a few. Always preferring to work behind the scenes, her tenacity and bold spirit will continue to impact and touch the lives of all of us on the North Coast. Though her work is still needed here, her memory will guide those left behind.

”Thank you Ronnie for your years of dedicated service to protecting the Klamath River and Tribal sovereignty.”

In Ronnie’s memory and dedication contributions may be made to the Ronnie Pierce Scholarship Fund, c/o KRIFWC, PO Box 1449, Hoopa, CA 95546.

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