Yuba Salmon Now

CCKA Advocacy Day: SYRCL’s Impactful Dialogue with Key California Decision Makers
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CCKA Advocacy Day: SYRCL’s Impactful Dialogue with Key California Decision Makers

On March 5th Aaron Zettler-Mann, SYRCL’s Executive Director, and Traci Sheehan, SYRCL’s Policy Manager, represented SYRCL at the California Coastkeeper Alliance’s (CCKA) annual Advocacy Day, engaging in meaningful conversations with key state-level decision-makers and agencies. 

During Advocacy Day, our meetings centered around pressing issues that affect the Yuba River watershed, including water and instream flows needed for salmon and protections that ensure our rivers are swimmable, fishable, and drinkable.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Wade Crowfoot, Director of the California Natural Resources Agency, and Chuck Bonham, the Director of California Fish and Wildlife, among others, to discuss potential collaborative efforts and advocate for much needed river flows in the Yuba for the survival of salmon and our fisheries.

The Yuba Watershed and the Bay-Delta Plan: Interlinked Plumbing and Management
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The Yuba Watershed and the Bay-Delta Plan: Interlinked Plumbing and Management

In response to the precipitous decline of native fisheries, the State of California is looking at solutions to restore some of the freshwater flows that the Delta and fish need. This process is commonly referred to as updating the Bay-Delta Plan. The current focus is on the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River, including the Yuba River. The Yuba to the Bay-Delta connection is critical for Yuba salmon because they depend on both ecosystems to survive. 

The Bay Delta and Yuba: Native American Tribes, Water Rights, and Cultural Uses
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The Bay Delta and Yuba: Native American Tribes, Water Rights, and Cultural Uses

The State Water Resources Control Board needs to consider the incorporation of Tribal water rights, Tribal Beneficial Uses, and Tribal Ecological Knowledge in the Bay-Delta Plan. The Draft Staff Report should be revised to establish and ensure the protection of Tribal Beneficial Uses, set standards for harmful algae blooms, and address the problem that insufficient freshwater flows are a main factor in destroying native fish habitat and causing these algae blooms. The Plan must guarantee the water’s journey through the Delta to the Golden Gate.