SYRCL’s vision is to inspire the community to engage in sustainable and ecologically sound cannabis cultivation in the Yuba River watershed.
Our scientists and concerned community members recognize that the environmental impacts of unregulated, large-scale cannabis cultivation are real.
SYRCL wants to help growers understand how regulation can be a tool that allows agriculture to align with objectives that maintain water quality, and promote habitat for fish and wildlife.
In 2016, California took the positive step towards regulating cannabis cultivation with Proposition 64. Nevada County was the only county in the Yuba River watershed to regulate cannabis cultivation and protect our water resources.
Unfortunately, as of 2020, cannabis impacts in the Yuba River watershed are still largely unregulated due to lack of resources and regulations on federal land as well as Sierra, Yuba and Placer counties.
SYRCL remains vigilant to the environmental impacts of unregulated cannabis operations while striving to be an active participant in the regulatory process for legal cannabis cultivation operations.
As a community we can educate each other to ensure cannabis is grown in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way.
The most concerning impacts in the Yuba are:
The overuse of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, polluting the water and poisoning wildlife.
Illegal water diversions that result in loss of late season stream flow and dry up creeks. The diversions also increase pollution and algae blooms in our streams and rivers.
Cultivating cannabis on public and forested lands causes deforestation and illegal land grading, damaging habitat for native fish and wildlife.
On April 3rd, our “Growing Green for the Yuba: Building Healthy Soil for a Fruitful Harvest” panel will be moderated by Elizabeth Betancourt, Chief of the Cannabis Permitting and Compliance Unit at our local Central Valley Water Board, and candidate for CA Assembly District 1. Details
SYRCL’s vision for Growing Green is that people will see that well-regulated agriculture – which is what cannabis cultivation could be – should not harm water quality, fish or wildlife. Want to know more? Read on for more on exciting developments in Growing Green for the Yuba. Details
SYRCL submitted a comment letter to Nevada County analyzing the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on its proposed Cannabis Cultivation Ordinance (NCCO). “As the Yuba River is an economic driver, recreational treasure, and ecological stronghold within our community, SYRCL took our obligation to protect the Yuba River seriously and spoke on behalf of this resource in these comments,” said Melinda Booth, SYRCL’s Executive Director. Details
Want your voice to be heard? Join SYRCL and Nevada County Cannabis Alliance on Tuesday, September 4th for a Public Comment Workshop to learn what should go into Scoping comments and what specific issues face this community with this cannabis ordinance. Details