Englebright Dam

Unlocking the Future of Yuba River Salmon: Advocating for Restoration Through Relicensing
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Unlocking the Future of Yuba River Salmon: Advocating for Restoration Through Relicensing

On January 16th, SYRCL and our allies in the Foothills Water Network filed comments with the Federal Energy Commission (FERC) requesting formal studies to help restore salmon in the lower Yuba River. Our comments also focused on the YWA’s Final License Application for the project and are part of the relicensing of the Narrows 1 Project located on the lower Yuba River.

Understanding the Rhythms of Rivers: Exploring Natural Hydrographs and the Impact of Dams on Watersheds
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Understanding the Rhythms of Rivers: Exploring Natural Hydrographs and the Impact of Dams on Watersheds

Dams create a number of issues for the overall health of a watershed. One of the primary issues is that they modify the volume (discharge) and timing of when and how water flows in the portion of the river downstream. Dams trap and store water in the wet periods of time, and then release additional water during the dry, hot periods of time to meet human need.  

Yuba Salmon Now Update: Federal Judge Says it’s Time to End Debate on Yuba River Dams
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Yuba Salmon Now Update: Federal Judge Says it’s Time to End Debate on Yuba River Dams

SYRCL and Friends of the River recently sent a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service to compel the agency to craft a watershed-wide solution to save the threatened species native to the Yuba Watershed, including Spring-run Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and green sturgeon. The letter demands a new biological opinion, presenting compelling evidence that harm caused by the Corps’ dams, compounded by increased harm from climate change, is responsible for the dramatic decrease in Yuba River fish populations. Details

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times…to be a Yuba Salmon.
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The Best of Times, the Worst of Times…to be a Yuba Salmon.

Despite our best efforts, the salmon have had two of the worst years on record. Salmon don’t appear to take notice of plans and funding requests. They continue to struggle to survive in the aftermath of the mining and dam building eras, maximizing their ability to thrive in habitat that slowly recovers. Details