SYRCL’s River Ambassador Program Kicks-off with a Party at the River on Saturday, June 22nd

The community is invited to help kick-off this summer’s River Ambassador program on June 22^nd with a party at the Highway 49 Crossing.  While SYRCL is still seeking a few more volunteers to serve as River Ambassadors, the new program, which will run from June 22^nd through September 21^st, will staff all four major river crossings in order to engage the thousands of local residents and out-of-towners about what they can do to help keep the river clean, safe and healthy all summer.  The River Ambassador program will also include a series of educational events starting with a special river photography workshop from renowned local photographer John Daly on June 29^th.

Kickoff Party at Highway 49 Crossing (old bridge) from 10am to 5pm

June 22^nd is the River Ambassadors first day on the River, and we will be celebrating the program’s kick-off with fun and games for the whole family. Come play fish pong, paint river flags, guess Yuba River trivia and visit with SYRCL’s mascot Flo.  Come down to the river anytime between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm and share in the fun of building community while caring for the River.

Volunteers and Paid River Captain Positions Still Available

The River Ambassador program is still in need of a few more volunteer River Ambassadors and there is also an opening for one more

paid River Captain position this summer season.  If you want to put your passion for the Yuba into action to protect it, consider joining the River Ambassador team and educate the public through face-to-face conversations about stewardship.  Contact Andrew Collins-Anderson, andrew@syrcl.org, to volunteer or apply to become a River Captain.  Volunteers commit to at least three shifts over the summer and will get trained by SYRCL and State Parks staff to be effective educators.

Expand Your Photography Skills with John Daly

If you are an aspiring photographer, come support the River Ambassador program on June 29^th while learning from local expert photographer, John Daly, about the tricks and secrets of how to take quality river photos.  This special workshop will be held from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Purdon Crossing and benefits SYRCL’s River Ambassador program.  A $10 to $20 sliding-scale donation is requested to attend.  There is only space for 12 participants – Register today by calling Andrew Collins-Anderson, SYRCL’s Stewardship Coordinator at (530) 265-5961 ext. 209 or e-mail him at andrew@syrcl.org.  Bring your own camera and tripod and enjoy a pleasant evening on the River.

Respect the Porta-Potties at the River

We ask you to show your appreciation for the South Yuba River State Park this year and for all the amenities the State Parks and Bureau of Land Management provide to keep the river corridor clean.  Over this last Memorial Day holiday, the porta-potties at Highway 49 were destroyed by vandals and last year the porta-potties that SYRCL pays for at Purdon Crossing were also vandalized and tipped over.  Luckily no sewage reached the river, but this type of vandalism causes impacts to the Yuba and its visitors by increasing costs to run the park and possibly polluting the river.  The Yuba is seeing more and more visitors each year, and it will take a concerted community effort to ensure the River we love is protected and respected. If you see suspicious activity or witness vandalism, please notify Nevada County Sheriff’s office at (530) 265-7880

SYRCL would like to thank the South Yuba River State Park and the California State Parks Foundation for all of their generous support and assistance in making the River Ambassador program a success.