The Problem
Over half of the South Yuba River corridor is public land, managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). State Parks has experienced severe budget cuts in recent years resulting in services being drastically reduced. With an estimated 700,000+ people visiting the South Yuba River State Park every year and the thousands of pounds of trash removed during SYRCL’s Annual Yuba River Cleanup, the River Ambassador program was developed to prevent the South Yuba River from being “loved to death.”
The Solution
River Ambassadors are volunteers taking action to motivate and educate the community to care for the South Yuba River! 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 Ambassadors
Meet new friends who are passionate about the river!
Inspire river stewardship at Bridgeport, 49, and Purdon Crossing.
Receive comprehensive training from SYRCL and State Park staff
Commit to 3-5 weekend shifts between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
2012-2019 River Ambassador Stats at a Glance
River Captains and River Ambassadors spent 6,337 hours on the river
Removed 4,300 piles of dog waste
Made contact with 57,440 South Yuba River State Park visitors about stewardship
Removed 18 fire rings
Collected 39,746 pieces of trash, including cigarette butts, food wrappers, and glass containers
Gave out 976 trash bags
Partners and Supporters
SYRCL extends its appreciation to the business community and to the dedicated volunteers that make this program possible. To see a full list of local businesses that sponsored our most recent Yuba River Cleanup and River Ambassador program financially, please click here. SYRCL is grateful to California State Parks for their help in creating and facilitating this program, and the South Yuba River Park Association for their support as well.
