SYRCL’s River Ambassadors: Our First Weekend Observations

Now in our 13^th year, SYRCL’s River Ambassadors are volunteers taking action to motivate and educate the community to care for the South Yuba River. Working in conjunction with California State Parks, this dedicated team promotes an ethic of responsible, non-polluting use of the river by speaking one-on-one with visitors at crossings, beaches, and on trails. Using a friendly, non-confrontational approach, River Ambassadors educate folks about the polluting impacts of trash and dog waste, the dangers of broken glass, and the catastrophic potential of wildfire.  River Ambassador volunteers are led by SYRCL’s River Captains.  

FIRST WEEKEND DATA 

Memorial Day weekend was the start of River Ambassador season. From 10am to 2pm, SYRCL River Captains were stationed at Highway 49 Crossing and Bridgeport on May 24^th to the 27^th. They were joined by 9 River Ambassador volunteers on various days throughout the weekend. 

The following is some of data they collected: 

Total Number of Visitors Counted over the weekend: 

• Highway 49: 998 
• Bridgeport: 1,131 

River Ambassadors had interactions with 566 individuals over the weekend.

Of those: 

• 38% identified as “locals” 
• Over 100 said they were first time visitors to the river 
• 53 said that Spanish was their first language 

River Ambassadors picked up 478 pieces of trash that would have otherwise ended up in the river. 

River Ambassadors counted 189 dogs over the four-day weekend. 

River Ambassadors fielded many questions about local trails and where it would be safe to swim, indicating that the Stay Out, Stay Alive messaging was getting heard. 

The majority of first-time visitors reported that they heard about the Yuba River via social media, specifically TikTok. Further, some of these visitors relayed that they came to swim because of information received from TikTok. 

MEET THIS YEAR’S RIVER CAPTAINS 

Russell Stabler  

Russell is a somewhat retired medicinal chemist with a keen interest in geochemistry.  He and his wife moved here to her hometown, Nevada City, five years ago. These lovely foothills, mountains and rivers are a fine adventure for a man and his dog. The forest is where the dog and Russell do their spiritual work.  

Much of Russell’s life’s training from Boy Scouts to Ski Patrolling is encouraging folks to appreciate nature in the way that is safe for themselves and sane for the environment. The River Ambassador program is all about that.  

The folks drawn to this beautiful area have such a variety of backgrounds and wilderness experiences. Every interaction with a visitor is learning about someone new and how River Ambassadors can offer them a more conscientious experience. We offer information, materials and guidance for wilderness etiquette or planning the next adventure. We are also the go to people for emergency situations.  

Dustin Dargus  

Growing up in a small farm town in northern Minnesota, Dustin always loved time spent outdoors, from sledding in the snow to catching fireflies on warm summer nights.  He spent his college years in the Northwoods of the state, falling in love with the trees and lakes.  After a decade spent living in the flat prairies of Fargo, North Dakota, he began to seek out the woods and mountains that always brought him joy.  Eventually he found his way to Northern California, and it was here that Dustin discovered the Yuba River.    

The Yuba River quickly became a favorite place to spend a summer day with the family, a go-to for rainy winter hikes, and the sought-out place to feel spiritually grounded, to mourn, and to celebrate.  Dustin is excited to be a River Captain this summer – it’s a chance to give something back to our community, and to give something back to the river and the environment that has brought him so much peace and enjoyment.     

Alana Lucia  

Alana Lucia has been a resident of Nevada County for over 20 years. She believes strongly in this community and throughout her time here, has worked in the solar industry, finance, and has volunteered for organizations such as KVMR, Sierra Streams Institute, and BriarPatch. In this stage of her life, she has shifted to living her passions and ideals. She lives on a 33-acre farm community and milks her cow daily. She appreciates the Yuba River for all that it offers this community-immense beauty, deep solace, and refreshing adventure.