Reviving the Yuba River: Habitat, Heritage, and Hope

Reconnecting Fish, People, and Ecosystems in Northern California

The Yuba River in Northern California has long been shaped by the legacy of hydraulic mining. Now, a new era of restoration is underway. This film captures the bold efforts of Yuba Water Agency, state and federal agencies, Tribal nations, and conservation engineers working to revive fish populations, improve habitat, and address the lasting impacts of mining-era sediment. Together, they are making space for the river to be a river again — creating refuge for threatened spring-run Chinook salmon and other native species.

From egg injection into gravel beds to California’s first reintroduction of adult spring-run Chinook salmon above a rim dam, this collaboration is breaking new ground. Nature-like fishways and innovative floodplain reconnections are not only restoring ecological function but also expanding access to cold, clean spawning habitat. These recovery projects aren’t isolated; they’re interconnected, science-based solutions that are unlocking over 12 miles of critical fish habitat and offering long-term resilience for a river under stress.

With contributions from local, state and federal government agencies exceeding $100 million, and nearly another $100 million in in-kind contributions from public partners, the Yuba River recovery efforts exemplify the impact of public-private collaboration. Projects like the Hallwood Side Channel are delivering high-quality jobs, local flood protection, and lasting environmental gains. At the heart of it all is a commitment to working together, for species, for science, and for the communities that depend on a thriving river.