We are excited to announce the launch of our new website for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Take a quick peek @ www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org Just in time for the 2011 film festival, we will be updating the website with new information weekly. Bookmark the site and check back often.
SYRCL shared River Monitoring program data with the State Water Resources Control Board last month in an effort to draw the state’s attention to water quality in the Yuba. Of specific concern is a downward trend in pH over the last ten years, a trend most obvious in the headwaters of the South Yuba. SYRCL river monitors have repeatedly detected pH values lower than 5 in the upper watershed, a pH which lies well below the standard of 6.5 set by the Water Quality Control Board’s Basin Plan and represents the most acidic a stream can be while still sustaining maximum biodiversity. The causes of low pH in the headwaters of the South Yuba River are not yet fully understood, and SYRCL will be leading the investigations along with scientists from the water board.
Graph showing pH at South Yuba water quality stations in order of increasing elevation.
Every two years, the SWRCB gathers information to determine additions or changes to the list of officially “impaired” water bodies. The list, referred to as 303(d) due to the specific mandate in the Clean Water Act, guides state and federal resources for investigation and protection. Two years ago, SYRCL data led to the addition of the South Yuba River as impaired with high water temperatures. As a result, the state is committed to providing a protection plan by 2024, and we expect that this will contribute to our efforts to restore flows and riparian habitat. It is hoped that with the state’s involvement in pH we can gain a better understanding of water quality in our watershed and, if necessary, take meaningful steps to improve pH in the upper South Yuba.
September 1, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Miriam Limov, RiverPeople/Volunteer Coordinator miriam@syrcl.org 530-265-5961 X 201
Jason Rainey, Executive Director Jason@syrcl.org 530-265-5961 X 207
SYRCL’s 13th Annual “Greater Yuba Clean-Up and Restoration Day” Announced Rally Round the River on Saturday, September 25, 2010
The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) announces the upcoming 13th annual “Greater Yuba Clean-Up and Restoration Day” on Saturday, September 25, 2010. The event is in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Great Sierra River Cleanup, a program of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. This all-day event includes clean-up and restoration projects from 9:00 am – noon, followed by a full afternoon of festivities at the South Yuba River State Park at Bridgeport crossing celebrating the Greater Yuba River and community volunteers. In 2009, a record number of over 700 volunteers—registering as individuals, civic and youth groups, or families—supported SYRCL’s Greater Yuba Clean-Up.
“The record turn-out in 2009 and representation from such a variety of youth and civic groups illustrates that protecting clean flowing rivers is a value that unites our community together,” says Miriam Limov, SYRCL’s organizer of the event.
SYRCL has spearheaded twelve successful years of river clean-ups in partnership with the California Coastal Commission’s Cleanup Day, the state’s largest volunteer event and largest volunteer event in Nevada County. SYRCL’s Greater Yuba River Clean-Up and Restoration Day has stewarded sites ranging from the high Sierra mountains of Donner Summit to Parks Bar on the Lower Yuba, covering over 90 miles of shoreline. With over half a million visitors each year to the South Yuba River alone, enormous amounts of litter are discarded over the summer months. To address these recreational impacts, SYRCL has coordinated 4,800 volunteers who have removed 120,000 pounds of trash and recycling, rebuilt trails and removed invasive species during the three-hour cleanup day each September for the past 12 years.
“The Yuba is a majestic river, yet also a hard working river serving so many demands for water supply and peak power generation at considerable cost to river health. These are complex issues to resolve,” states SYRCL executive director Jason Rainey. “What’s great about the Clean Up is that we can identify an obvious and known problem such as litter in our river, organize the community, and work together to virtually eliminate the problem in one morning of effort. That’s a powerful feeling to share.”
Additionally, SYRCL has partnered to offer volunteers an opportunity to support several habitat restoration projects on September 25th, including removal of noxious weeds at Bridgeport and another vegetation project at the Bennett Street meadow in Grass Valley.
Volunteers can also make a difference on the popular Grouse Ridge trails in the Tahoe National Forest on September 18 through a pre-winter trail maintenance service project. Meet at the Nevada City forest service office on Coyote Street at 8 am to carpool, bring a shovel or pick, lunch and water and we’ll enjoy a day up in the mountains fixing the trails that have had much use over the summer months. You can sign up to participate in this project and the clean-up on September 25th. Both dates of participation require pre-registration.
New this year is the BYOB campaign: Bring your own, bag and/or buckets to pick up the trash, gloves, water bottle and serving ware to the celebration. This action will reduce the amount of trash produced by the event by not having to produce more plastic bags than necessary.
River Celebration! Following the morning clean-up effort is a free hearty barbeque lunch and river celebration for participating clean-up volunteers at South Yuba River State Park at the Bridgeport crossing on the South Yuba River north of Penn Valley. The buffet lunch is provided courtesy of the following restaurants and stores: BriarPatch Co-op Community Market, New Belgium Brewery, SPD Market, Nevada County Free Range Beef, Indian Springs Organic Farm, Xtremely Green, Living Lands Agrarian Network, California Organics, Broad Street Bistro, Four Frog Farm, Flour Garden Bakery, Riverhill Farm, Summer Thyme’s Café, Mother Truckers, Natural Selection,Valentina’s Bakery and Carl’s Jr. Restaurant will provide lemonade (bring your own bottle!).
After lunch, the celebration will include the stories and magical juggling by renowned artist Izzi Tooinsky, dancing to the groovin’ tunes of members of the band, Sabroso, our annual Volunteer Awards, and a beer garden sponsored by the New Belgium Brewery. The celebration will begin at noon and lasts until 3 pm. Guests are asked to bring low-back chairs, blankets, plates, cups and utensils.
“This is a wonderful family event where one third of the participants last year were ages 18 and under,” states Limov. “SYRCL aims to foster such stewardship and have even greater participation from the youth this year.”
In a new youth partnership, SYRCL is collaborating with The Nevada County Y.O.U.T.H. (Youth Opposing The Use of Tobacco for Health), Coalition to increase the amount of community awareness related to the environmental impact that tobacco litter has on rivers and aquatic life. They will have an info booth at the Bridgeport celebration; contact Felicia Sobonya at felicia.sobonya@co.nevada.ca.us for more info or to get involved. Other youth and school groups interested in participating are encouraged to contact SYRCL to register for specialized projects.
Partners in the Event: Friends of Deer Creek, Wolf Creek Community Alliance, Nevada County Land Trust and Nevada County Resource Conservation District.
This event is made possible thanks to a grant from REI, and these generous sponsors: Nevada City Self Storage, KVMR, California State Parks, B&C True Value Hardware and YubaNet.com.
What: “The 13th Annual Greater Yuba Clean-Up and Restoration Day” Event
Who: The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), in partnership with Friends of Deer Creek, Nevada County RCD, Wolf Creek Community Alliance, and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
When: Saturday, September 25, 2010 9 am – noon for the Clean-Up and Restoration projects; 12 – 3 pm for the Celebration at Bridgeport
Where: 35 sites on the Yuba and Bear Rivers and Wolf and Deer Creeks followed by a
post-cleanup celebration at the South Yuba River State Park at the Bridgeport crossing.
More Information: www.yubariver.org or contact event coordinator, Miriam Limov at
miriam@syrcl.org 530-265-5961 X 201
On-Line Registration Required! To sign up for a Clean-Up site or for the restoration projects, please visit our website at www.yubariver.org to register. Register early to make sure that you have the opportunity to cleanup at your favorite site!
The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) has organized our membership for over a quarter century to fulfill our mission to protect and restore the Yuba River and the Greater Yuba Watershed.
Have you seen SYRCL while riding on BART? SYRCL joins with a coalition of commercial fisherman, tribes, and river advocacy groups to say “Yes!” to wild salmon and the rivers they depend on. SYRCL is a member of the SalmonAid coalition, which hosts Salmon Month all through September at the Aquarium of the Bay on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Click 
here to see the full range of events planned throughout the month. including a special Salmon Cinema and Storytelling program of SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival on September 15th.
September 1 - Go Wild Gala, featuring an elegant evening of salmon cuisine, beer/wine and conversation in the Aquarium
September 10 - Meet Your Fishermen, a book reading and discussion with sustainable seafood providers
September 11&12 - Films from SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival
September 15 - Salmon Cinema & Storytelling Circle, featuring movies and live storytelling plus a cocktail reception
September 19 & 20 - Kids’ Weekend with games, activities, and stories
September 26 – The third annual outdoor SalmonAid Music Festival
Join us this fall on a float down the Yuba and witness the spectacular journey of endangered, wild Chinook salmon as they make their way from the ocean to their ancestral spawning waters!
Fish and fun on the 2006 Salmon Tours.
SYRCL River Science staff and the wonderful river guides at Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC) are partnering again this year to take you and your family on an adventure down the river to see spawning salmon. Get your hands wet while learning about the salmon life cycle, their ecology, and the impact humans have on these incredible fish.
Make the Journey
October 23rd, October 30th, November 6th, and November 13th.
Pricing and Booking
Current SYRCL members only $50
Non-members $65
Children 8-12 $35
To register contact Davido Crow, ETC River Manager at 455-474-7662 or RiverProgram@etctrips.org
If you have you been to the Nevada County Rood Center lately there’s a good chance that you noticed the construction taking place in the parking lot. What may not be obvious is that the site represents the first significant bio-engineered stormwater management project in the Yuba Basin: sections of asphalt and conventional landscaping are being replaced by a rain garden and bioswale designed to “slow, spread and sink” stormwater runoff. The installation of these features will catch, temporarily store, and purify storm water that normally flows into Deer Creek unpurified, carrying with it the parking lot’s sediment and pollution.
View of the Rain Garden and permeable concrete. The garden is populated with native plants.
At the first sign of rain this autumn SYRCL staff will be ready for the first flush in which water containing all the parking lot’s accumulated oil, antifreeze, and other debris from the summer will be washed into the rain garden and bioswale. We will be monitoring how much of this water is directed into the catchment areas and collecting samples to be analyzed for oil and grease, nutrients, toxic metals, and E. coli bacteria to determine how well the features attenuate pollutants and purify water. Monitoring will occur at every major storm event thereafter with data to be collected on pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, and total suspended solids.
SYRCL will also supervise and analyze the results of two simulated rainfall events staged to determine how much water each feature can hold. After reaching a capacity of approximately 25,860 gallons, storm water will begin to flow out of the rain garden and into Oregon Ravine through a culvert that passes below Hwy 49. To better asses the project’s influence on the water being discharged from the attenuation features, SYRCL has established a monitoring site on Oregon Ravine to measure water quality before and after the project’s completion. It is our hope to observe improved water quality conditions in this tributary of Deer Creek after the successful implementation of this exciting and innovative project.
To learn more about the Stormwater Management Project at the Nevada County Administrative Center (Rood Center) or to see pictures of the project go to http://www.theunion.com/article/20100630/NEWS/100629691/1001&parentprofile=1053
To learn more about SYRCL’s other water quality monitoring data, visit www.yubashed.org.
Valley, CA – July 15-18th. More info: http://www.worldfest.net Headliners for the WorldFest include Keb Mo and Ziggy Marley plus eight stages of music and dance from around the world, camping with family and friends, workshops, international food, fine crafts, and the renowned children’s program… celebrate mid-summer under the tall pines of the Sierra foothills. If you get too hot, you can jump inside the Welcome Stage for some enviro films hosted by Wild & Scenic:International Film Evening-FRIDAY, July 16th 6:00-7:30 p.m.
The Fun Theory: Piano Staircase
Skip the escalator. Volkswagen makes it fun to take the stairs. To encourage people to take the stairs instead of the escalator, Volkswagen converted a set of stairs at a subway station in Stockholm into working piano keys. As part of the Theory of Fun campaign, which showcases efforts to get people to change by simply making things more fun. www.thefuntheory.com (US, 2009, 2min)
Edge of the Sea
In the past fifty years, 61-year old fisherman Pauco Font has seen the white sand beaches of his Puerto Rico hometown disappearing due to erosion caused by mega developments. In 2008, Pauco and members of his community began to fight back. Grand Fest Award, Berkeley Film Fest. www.seagrantpr.com (PuertoRico/US, 2009, 26:30min)
Living Lightly
This is a magical glimpse into a world where one 21st century family lives with the land in its seasons. In a corner of New Brunswick, Canada, the craft of scything, is practiced as meditation in action. www.livinglightlythefilm.com (US, 2007, 24min)
What is That?
A touching story of a young man and his elderly father, their story coming full circle. (Greece, 2007, 5:30min)
The Fun Theory: Bottle Bank Arcade
Many of us return our plastic bottles and cans. Noticeably fewer recycle their glass. Maybe that’s because we don’t get any money in return, as we do for cans and plastic. Can we change this attitude by making recycling glass fun to do? So you are not just rewarded with a good conscience, you also get a smile. www.thefuntheory.com (US, 2009, 2min)
Flathead Wild
Proposed mountaintop removal mining in southeastern British Columbia, Canada is threatening one of America’s most endangered rivers and North America’s wildest remaining valley — The Flathead. This film follows the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP) as they descend on the Flathead River Valley, along with local conservation groups, to take breathtaking and iconic images of the threatened ecosystem. These images then act as tools for the Flathead coalition to help tip the scales in favor of protection and conservation. (US, 2009, 22min)
Kids/Family Film Evening-SATURDAY, July 17th 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Lady Bug Swarm
Enjoy one of the wonders of nature … and rediscover the beauty of nature through the eyes of a child. (US, 2009, 2:30min)
The Plastic Perils of the Pacific
A neurotic little crab does his part in cleaning up the ocean. www.plasticperils.com (US, 2008, 4min)
One by One, Ton by Ton: STOP Global Warming!
An educational cartoon featuring the “It’s a Jungle Out There!” Inspired by the requests of school teachers and non-profits, the film teaches about the causes of global warming, the current changes to the world’s ecosystems and the steps we can all take to help stop global warming. www.hippoworks.com (US, 9min)
Generations: A Perspective on Climate Change
For many, snowy winters have a deep significance – culturally, personally, and financially. Going beyond charts and numbers, this film humanizes the debate on climate change by exploring the delicateness of winter and the intrinsic value of snow to people across generations and cultures. (US, 2009, 16min)
Young Voices on Climate Change
“If you adults won’t do something on climate change, then we kids are going to take the reins,” says young activist Shannon McComb. These kids speak directly about their concerns, knowledge, and their actions to combat climate change. (US, 2009, 12min)
A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW
Simple hope and inspiration can be found in the Stemple Watershed of Northern California. In 1992, a fourth grade class-project began that is now a remarkable program that has restored over 20 miles of habitat, galvanized the local community, and led to significant educational innovations. www.asimplequestion.org, www.bay.org (US, 2009, 35min)
V for Volunteer
A seven year old Sausalito girl and her dogs invite kids to volunteer in their local communities to help keep the earth healthy and green. (US, 2009, 2:22min)
July 13, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Jason Rainey, Executive Director, SYRCL: 530 264-6879; jason@syrcl.org
Chris Sproul, Lead Attorney, Environmental Advocates csproul@enviroadvocates.com
Steve Evans, Conservation Director, Friends of the River, (916) 442-3155, Ext. 221
Sacramento, CA - After decades of mismanagement, failed negotiations and over four years of litigation to protect wild salmon populations on the brink of extinction, citizen groups declared legal victory today for Yuba Salmon.
A judge has ruled that the operations plan for two federal dams on the Yuba River is inadequate to protect California’s threatened salmon, steelhead and green sturgeon. The plan, known as a Biological Opinion, was re-written three times by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Bush Administration. In a case initiated by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) and Friends of the River, Judge Karlton of the United States District Court in Sacramento ruled on Friday that the current Biological Opinion issued by NMFS in 2007 was “arbitrary and capricious” in that it failed to adequately analyze numerous impacts on listed salmon species arising from two dams on the Yuba River.
“This is an important precedent setting victory for Yuba salmon and steelhead. The court has ruled that NMFS has failed to adequately consider a full range of impacts from dams and failed to require measures that address these impacts. Judge Karlton’s decision is critical for protecting threatened salmon species,” states Christopher Sproul, lead attorney for Environmental Advocates, who is representing the citizens groups who initiated the legal action in December 2006.
The 76-page ruling addresses a wide range of impacts stemming from the operation of Daguerre Point Dam and Englebright Dam—two “debris” dams under the management of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and associated projects owned and operated by non-federal agencies. Daguerre Point Dam has antiquated fish ladders that impact upstream and downstream migration of salmonid species and Englebright Dam is a complete barrier to over a hundred miles of ancestral spawning habitat for steelhead and Spring-run Chinook salmon. The Yuba River is one of the few major rivers in the Sacramento Valley without a hatchery, and thus represents one of the best and last strongholds for self-sustaining wild salmon populations.
“SYRCL’s been advocating for fish passage analysis at these antiquated federal dams for over a decade. They weren’t built for water supply or hydropower, and today they play a negligible role in flood management. American taxpayers continue to subsidize these negative-value dams, yet the agency’s own scientists agree the dams block access to salmon habitat that is needed to prevent the extinction of these threatened species,” states Jason Rainey, executive director for SYRCL.
The court order comes after a three year collapse in salmon populations throughout the Sacramento River system that has grounded commercial and recreational salmon fishing throughout California and up most the coast of Oregon. The 2009 salmon runs—which includes the distinctive populations of adult salmon that migrate through the Golden Gate in the spring, fall and winter—were the lowest on record, with an estimated 39,500 Chinook salmon returning to the Sacramento River and tributaries. The Yuba River supported an estimated 12% of the entire run in 2009, and likely represents the majority of wild (ie. Non-hatchery produced) salmon in the whole of the Central Valley Chinook salmon population.
“The Yuba River represents the next—and perhaps last—opportunity for bold Chinook salmon restoration measures in California. There’s a track-record of collaboration and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure fish passage and cold water are built into the license terms for the dams on the Yuba River. This ruling sends a strong message to the federal agencies—the time to act for Yuba salmon is now,” states Steve Evans of Friends of the River, referring to the collaborative settlement for improved in-stream flows known as the Yuba Accord and the current regulatory process through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for issuing new licenses on hydro-power dams in the Yuba Basin for the first time since 1963.
The court agreed with SYRCL and Friends of the River in ruling that a range of factors associated with the dams were inadequately analyzed. The citizens groups also argued that the absence of any analysis on factors such as hatchery influence, conditions in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, and changing climactic conditions was a legal failure of duty. The court largely agreed, and has remanded the BiOp back to NMFS.
“We’re relieved by the court’s ruling and feel that our arguments have been heard. Still, we’re fighting the feds to produce a couple of dam studies and to cooperate amongst themselves. Without political action by the Obama administration, actual relief for California’s wild salmon is a long way off. We need action by the federal government now, or California’s salmon-based economy and ecology may slip past the point of no return on Obama’s watch,” concludes Jason Rainey.
Founded in 1983, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL, pronounced ‘circle’) is a public-benefit organization based in Nevada City, CA with a mission to protect and restore the Yuba River and the Greater Yuba Watershed, from source to sea. www.YubaRiver.org.
Friends of the River (FOR) is a California-based non-profit organization working exclusively on behalf of California rivers. FOR protects and restores rivers by influencing public policy,educating the public, and inspiring grassroots citizen action, and is nationally recognized as an authority on the adverse impacts of dams on rivers and ecosystems.
Download the entire 76-page ruling here: Karlton Order GRANTING partial summary judgment (in part)
SYRCL’s River Monitoring Program is in need of a digital camera! We use cameras to capture images of our monitoring sites, to provide evidence of watershed degredation, and to document the presence of species of interest like the yellow legged frog and beaver. Many photos like these are avaliable for you to view online at www.yubashed.org.
If you have a gently used digital camera that you would like to donate please contact the River Monitoring Coordinator, Brooke Berger, at brooke@syrcl.org or call 530-265-5961 ext. 211. A waterproof camera is ideal for the work we do but any an all donations are greatly appreciated! We thank you for your generosity!
Join Miriam Limov, RiverPeople Coordinator for SYRCL and Joe Chavez, from the U.S. Forest Service to build trails to replace ones that are degraded in a highly used area of Grouse Ridge, Tahoe National Forest August 20-22, 2010.
Students on the Summit trailbuilding in Grouse Ridge, August 2008
Itinerary
Friday, August 20: Meet at Loney Meadows to learn about the importance of meadows. Hike 3 miles into upper Rock Lake – dinner and evening program.
Saturday, August 21: Trail building all day with evening program.
Sunday,August 22: 1/2 day of trail building, swimming and 3 mile hike back out to Loney Meadows..
Hope you can join us in this wonderful opportunity to work together as a team fixing the trails hundreds of people utulitze right here in our own backyard!
To register and for more infromation, please contact Miriam Limov at (530) 265-5961 ext. 201 or miriam @syrcl.org
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