The Lower Yuba River has been heavily altered by hydraulic mining debris, dredger mining, upstream dams and an altered flow regime. While riparian vegetation cover has been increasing on the lower Yuba River over the last half century, following the control of hydraulic mining sediments and dredging, floodplain read more >>
The lower Yuba River once supported a thriving ecosystem with a braided channel system that fostered an abundant fish population and habitat for wildlife. During the Gold Rush era, hydraulic mining sediments flooded the ecosystem, covering habitat under tons of sediment. Later, dredger mining reworked that material and created a channelized river system with “training…
Partners: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Yuba River Citizens League, cbec eco engineering, Cramer Fish Sciences, SRI Supreme, Patterson Taber General Engineering, Inc. Funders: U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Yuba Water Agency Background: The impact of past gold mining efforts is glaring on the Lower Yuba River. Though the economic prosperity from the Gold Rush…
We at SYRCL were deeply saddened by the news that Jim Wofford passed away on September 18. Jim was an extraordinary volunteer who worked on conservation projects across the entire Yuba watershed – from field work and tree planting to water quality testing and greenhouse gas monitoring. A SYRCL member and volunteer since 1989, Jim was awarded “Volunteer of the Year” in 2011. He lived the life of a true citizen scientist and helped SYRCL advance its work in restoring our headwater meadows and the lower Yuba River.