Take action to meet our water needs — without another big dam.
Have you heard about the controversial plan to build the 275-foot Centennial Dam on the Bear River?
In the 21st century, dams are a last resort because they harm the environment and have skyrocketing costs. Today, smart water managers are using sustainable and innovative solutions to meet future water needs.
We don’t need a new dam generating more polluting sprawl and traffic. Let’s work together to increase our water supply by restoring our forests and meadows, and use the water we do have more wisely.
More than half of the water in the upper Middle and South Yuba River watersheds is diverted to the Bear River.
Will they take more in the future when Centennial doesn’t fill?
The Centennial Dam proposed by Nevada Irrigation District (NID) would be a 110,000-acre-foot reservoir with a 275-foot tall dam on the Bear River. It would inundate the last six miles of publicly accessible, free-flowing river on the Bear, covering the Bear River Campground, more than 25 homes and 120 parcels, 140 Native American sacred cultural sites, and Dog Bar Bridge. There are alternatives. Read more >>
Dam Watchdogs are people who are helping us scrutinize every angle of the Centennial Dam project and raise awareness of the impacts on the Yuba and Bear Rivers, water supply and wildlife. More than 1,300 people became Dam Watchdogs at our 2017 Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Read more >>
Right now the Bear River is in trouble—which means the Yuba is in trouble, too.
The local water agency is championing a project to build a 275-foot tall dam—called Centennial—on the Bear River, and create a 110,000-acre-foot reservoir. If built, Centennial Dam would block the last six miles of free-flowing, publicly-accessible river on the Bear. It would wipe out sacred Native American sites, beloved swimming holes, public campgrounds, oak woodlands and other fish and wildlife habitat. Read more >>
We’re mobilizing and assembling a team of 1,000 Dam Watchdogs.
Join SYRCL and help us scrutinize every angle of the Centennial Dam project and raise awareness of the impacts on the Yuba and Bear Rivers, water supply and wildlife. If Centennial Dam is green lighted, we’ll lose beloved public and sacred land—Native American heritage sites, campgrounds, a whitewater boating run, hiking trails and river access. Read more >>
Pledge to become a Centennial Dam Watchdog
We’ve assembled a strong team of Dam Watchdogs. Together, we are scrutinizing every angle of the Centennial Dam project and raising awareness of the impacts on the Yuba and Bear Rivers, water supply and wildlife.
With your help, we’ll shine a light on the project so the community knows what the dangers could be for the two watersheds.