On July 18, SYRCL AmeriCorps members Jack Roney and James Johnson represented SYRCL at the annual Fish Day, joining the U.S. Forest Service in bringing the community together to learn about our local watersheds. Fish Day encourages families to explore our healthy lakes, streams, and forests through hands-on activities and informational sessions.  

Throughout the day, visitors engaged with educational tables with fish and herpetology displays, where they learned about the wildlife that relies on healthy freshwater habitats. Days before the event, Packer Lake was stocked with thousands of rainbow trout, giving families the chance to participate in a casual fishing derby, many learning to fish for the very first time. Some fish were tagged with a prize for an even more exciting catch. After catching their fish, participants learned how to clean and prepare them, and create fish print t-shirts after answering some fish trivia questions. 

 SYRCL works throughout the North Yuba leading a variety of restoration, monitoring, and public awareness initiatives to support watershed health and resilience. Our nonprofit is a member of the North Yuba Forest Partnership, a diverse group of nine organizations passionate about forest health and the resilience of the North Yuba River watershed. The forest health staff conduct riparian monitoring for the North Yuba Landscape Resilience Project supporting the North Yuba Forest Partnership’s efforts to evaluate restoration effectiveness and improve the health across the landscape. At Haskell Peak, SYRCL implemented restoration on five separate meadows totaling 228 acres, to improve watershed health and habitat. This fall, closer to Packer Lake, implementation will continue for the Salmon & Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project. SYRCL is also a partner on the Yuba Reintroduction Working Group focused on the reintroduction of spring-run Chinook to the North Yuba River. Having led public outreach efforts, SYRCL continues to volunteer with pilot study efforts like the juvenile collection with rotary screw traps in support of this goal.  

Events like Fish Day bring families together, creating opportunities to spend time outdoors and build lasting memories. It was incredible seeing so many kids participating in an experience that will encourage a lifelong appreciation for our planet. By connecting families with healthy watersheds through fun, hands-on learning, events like these help inspire the next generation of nature lovers.

Whether it’s restoring habitat, fishing, hiking, or going outside, these events help build healthier ecosystems, stronger communities, and a happy future! We hope to see you at next year’s Fish Day! 

• Volunteer at upcoming restoration workdays and see science in action.  
• Donate to fund long-term monitoring that guides watershed management decisions.  
• Stay informed by subscribing to updates on restoration projects and research findings