Here in Nevada County, life is inextricably tied to the Yuba River. Many of us visit the river regularly for a variety of reasons. Some of us seek peace and rejuvenation while others of us seek adventure or escape. Some of us pay homage to the river and the life it brings the watershed on our walks along its banks.
There are many ways to love the Yuba and we want to hear from you. For Valentine’s Day, we are asking Yuba River lovers to write love letters to the Yuba. Physical submissions will be displayed at Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co. (UPDATE: Three Forks is currently closed, and will re-open on March 3) through the end of this month so patrons and passersby can see how important the River is to our community. Digital submissions will be displayed at DearYuba.org along with any images or video you want to include with your submission.
Submit a drawing, record yourself reading a poem, create a collage!
Get creative with your love for the Yuba.
Need help getting inspired?
Here are a few questions you can use to guide your letter:
How did your relationship with the Yuba begin?
What does the Yuba give/offer you
What do you offer the Yuba?
What do you want others to know about the Yuba?
We were inspired to ignite this project by the short film Dear Mother Nature that debuted at this year’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival. In the film, Pattie Gonia visits the island of Oahu to find the beaches filled with micro-trash. This moves Pattie to solicit letters from fans expressing why they love the earth on which they live and to reflect on how they might alter their actions to protect it.
At SYRCL, we are continually impressed with the ways locals show their love for the Yuba—from the annual Yuba River Cleanup to serving as River Ambassadors to taking water samples as River Monitors. You’ve hauled trash from its banks and helped visitors stay safe. These love letters are another way you can express your affection for and connection to the river.
We hope showing our love will encourage others to get involved in preserving this wild and scenic space and to love the Yuba like a local. We look forward to hearing from you!
You can send your love letter (in whatever form it might take) as an email attachment to frieda@yubariver.org, mail or drop your letter off in our lobby, at 313 Railroad Ave., Suite 101 in Nevada City. By submitting a letter, you agree to have it displayed in the exhibit and/or in our online gallery.
