Friends of the Napa River (FONR) was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in early 1994. The organizers worked together through the years on many different concerns about the Napa River such as flood protection, boating, fishing, watershed restoration, trails, festivals, and riverfront development.

FONR is a diverse community group. Our mission is to be “the community’s voice for the protection, restoration, responsible development and celebration of the Napa River and its watershed through education and advocacy.”  To contact us or to become a member click here.

Our primary goal is to heighten the community’s awareness of the river as a valuable, but impaired, resource. We advocate for the Napa River at governmental meetings when decisions are being made that affect the river. We participate on local committees involving water, flooding, urban and land use planning, and recreation. We host river cleanups and watershed hikes. We gather the community to the river to celebrate the River, hosting events like the River Concert for Friends at CIA Copia, and the River Festival featuring the Napa Valley Symphony on Labor Day weekend. We have put together educational materials and offer classroom presentations and watershed field trips. Watershed education materials are also available to community organizations. We partner with the Napa RCD to "re-oak" the Napa Valley by planting acorns with schools and the community. Many of us have been involved over the years in the planning of the flood control project in Napa with a county-wide coalition to bring the most enlightened project possible to Napa.