South Yuba River Citizens League

This fall, thousands of students on our Salmon Expeditions in the lower Yuba River have seen nearly double the amount of Chinook salmon than last year thanks to SYRCL restoration projects that supporters helped make possible.   This progress could all be at risk if Congress passes the PERMIT Act, a sweeping bill that would gut the Clean Water Act, strip states of their authority to protect water quality, and open the door to unchecked industrial pollution.  If the PERMIT Act passes, the health of the entire Yuba watershed would be in jeopardy. So much so, that students who’ve been on a Salmon Expedition might not see Yuba salmon in the future.  Support SYRCL's work to stop harmful legislation like the PERMIT ACT and to grow our landscale-level restoration efforts. Give today, and your year-end gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar! Donate at YubaRiver.org

Happy National Gingerbread Cookie Day (November 21)! Did you know this day is all about baking, sharing, and decorating gingerbread cookies: a tradition as spicy and grounded as the salmon of our local watershed? Why the cookie/salmon mash-up? - Both gingerbread cookies and salmon rely on time-honored traditions: one in kitchens, the other in clean, thriving rivers. - Just as you wouldn’t skip fresh ingredients when baking cookies, salmon can’t do without cool, clean waters and intact habitat. - And when we share cookies with friends, we build community. When we protect the river for salmon, we build a healthier watershed for all of us. YubaRiver.org

Indigenous communities have always known: environmental stewardship begins with gratitude and reciprocity. This November, we've highlighted Wild & Scenic films that celebrate this wisdom alongside community-driven renewal and creative solutions to waste. Stream CARBON FUNK, HONOR THE TREATIES, and FROM TRASH TO TREASURE—three powerful Official Selections that reimagine how we live with our planet. Watch now at https://buff.ly/QtAzOiW

A new model is revealing that there may be more meadows in the Sierra Nevada than previously estimated. This summer, American Rivers began a multi-year effort alongside the South Yuba River Citizens League and the USDA Forest Service to find out how many "lost meadows" there really are in the North Yuba watershed in Northern California. One season in, the results are surprising! 🌾 Read our findings: https://lnkd.in/gYuAZs_i

The application period for SYRCL's 2026 Environmentalist of the Year Scholarship is Open. APPLY TODAY! https://buff.ly/8BSV9ud Application Deadline: January 31, 2026 at 11:55pm. The Environmentalist of the Year Scholarship is offered each year to a graduating high school senior pursuing a degree in an environmental field (science, advocacy, education, art, communication, technology, sustainability, etc.). We have offered this $4,000 scholarship ($1,000/year for four years) annually to local students since 2002.

Congress is back in session, and the fight for clean water continues. The PERMIT Act would undermine state authority to protect rivers like the South Yuba by fast-tracking permits and reducing public oversight. When this bill moves, we'll need your voice. Find out more here: https://buff.ly/Q1rImvZ Follow SYRCL for action alerts and visit YubaRiver.org to understand what's at stake.

Last year, SYRCL received a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board Block Grant being administered by Point Blue and the Sierra Meadows Partnership (SMP) to plan restoration in two distinct North Yuba wetlands: Galiano Fen and Haypress West Meadow.  Since then, SYRCL’s watershed science team spent the 2025 field season conducting pre project monitoring, hiring project contractors, and beginning to review restoration designs.   Read More Here: https://buff.ly/j9E6IKS

WHERE IN THE WATERSHED?

WHAT IN THE WATERSHED? Meet Darmera peltata — also known as Indian rhubarb or umbrella plant — a striking native perennial that thrives along mountain streams and wet woodland banks from northern California to southwestern Oregon. In spring, before its leaves unfurl, clusters of delicate pink-to-white flowers bloom on tall stalks, bringing a soft splash of color to stream edges. Soon after, enormous round, lobed leaves rise up like green umbrellas — sometimes catching and holding pools of rainwater. By autumn, they turn a vivid red, lighting up the riparian landscape. Umbrella plant roots (rhizomes) spread slowly, helping stabilize riverbanks and prevent erosion — an unsung hero for watershed health. Its love for wet soil makes it a natural ally in rain gardens and restoration projects. Look for Darmera’s lush leaves near cool, shaded creeks in the Sierra Nevada foothills and along Yuba River tributaries. It’s a reminder that beauty and resilience often grow hand-in-hand in the watershed.

IT'S NATIONAL PICKLE DAY! Whether you’re a fan of dill, bread-and-butter, or the controversial Koolickle (yes, that’s a pickle soaked in Kool-Aid), today’s the day to relish the power of the brine. Here at SYRCL, we’ve got pickles on our mind for another reason, because getting into a pickle is kind of our thing. When rivers are threatened by pollution, dams, or climate change, we don’t just sit on the shelf — we mobilize. We organize. We fight to keep the Yuba wild, scenic, and free-flowing. So today, while you’re crunching on your favorite pickle, remember the Yuba River: cool as a cucumber, salty like your favorite snack, and worth preserving for generations to come. Stay briny, stay wild, and help us keep the Yuba fresh — no preservatives needed. #NationalPickleDay #YubaRiver #SYRCL #StayBriny #KeepItWild #RiverHumor #RelishTheYuba