Western Aggregates and SYRCL Announce Agreement For 180-acre Salmon Habitat Enhancement Along Yuba River

Published on Oct 10, 2008 - 4:41:03 PM

By: SYRCL and Western Aggregates

October 10, 2008; Marysville, California - Western Aggregates (Western) and the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) announced today that they, along with the Yuba River Preservation Foundation (YRPF) and Yuba Outdoor Adventures (YOA), have signed an Agreement in Principle to establish a conservation easement along three miles of river frontage of the Yuba River downstream of the Parks Bar Bridge. The easement area, consisting of approximately 180 acres of land owned by Western Aggregates, will be used by the four signatories for habitat restoration for salmon, trout, and other native Yuba River species.

"Western Aggregates is excited about being involved in this habitat restoration project," said David Greenblatt, Senior Vice President of Western Aggregates. "Western has teamed up with SYRCL to utilize SYRCL's expertise and experience in these salmon restoration projects to promote opportunities for salmon population growth, riparian habitat restoration, and general improvement to the Yuba River. Through months of discussion, we were able to develop a joint program that uses Western Aggregates' lands with SYRCL's knowledge about river flows, habitat restoration, and fisheries enhancement with a goal to restore habitat for salmon, trout, and other native biota of the Yuba River," added Greenblatt. Lloyd Burns, President of Western Aggregates, noted that "this project will be good for the community, good for the river, and good for the fish."

The 24 miles of the lower Yuba River below Englebright Dam support one of the last wild salmon populations in all of the San Francisco Bay watershed. With pre-Gold Rush salmon runs estimated at roughly 100,000 in the whole of the Yuba Rivers, current salmon runs have reached a critically low level of 2,600 adult spawning salmon in 2007. In addition to migration barriers, quality riparian and side channel habitat have been identified by fisheries biologists as a key factor that limits the success of juvenile salmon. This project will especially focus on opportunities for salmon recovery and the physical restoration of salmon habitat.

"For the last 10 years SYRCL has worked with diverse stakeholders to find common ground for salmon protections," states Jason Rainey, Executive Director of SYRCL. "In Yuba County, we've brought in funding and technical expertise that have resulted in levee projects that reduce flood hazard while improving salmon habitat, we've negotiated for improved river flows and a commitment to salmon research and restoration through the Yuba Accord, and today we're working with Western Aggregates in a project that not only will protect up to 3 miles of river bank, but will also initiate the first robust effort to transform the cobblefields of the lower Yuba into functional and diverse riparian habitats for our uniquely wild Yuba salmon," concludes Rainey.

Western Aggregates and SYRCL commenced discussion about a conservation easement on Western's lands in the Yuba Goldfields about six months ago. Since then, the parties have discussed and now agreed in principle on a plan to protect existing habitat and promote the enhancement of additional riparian and floodplain habitat. The lands to be encumbered with a conservation easement include Western's lands in Sections 30 and 25 and portions of Section 26 west of the Parks Bar Bridge on the south side (Left Bank) of the Yuba River and north of Hammonton Road. The conservation easement will prohibit development or mining on the encumbered lands (except for disturbance that may be necessary to re-establish floodplains), and will go a step further in outlining a range of prescriptions for habitat restoration. The project also incorporates pedestrian access to the Yuba River through several walk-through gates to be established at locations to be agreed upon at a future date. In this manner, the project will protect the river while allowing public access for activities that are compatible with wildlife protection and enhancement.

The parties plan to implement the project in three phases. Initially, the project will protect and conserve land from vehicular damage to habitat. Concurrently, SYRCL will lead design and feasibility studies for physical habitat restoration. In the second phase, habitat for salmon and riparian wildlife will be restored through a series of projects over the encumbered lands. Finally, the project contemplates implementing long-term enhancement and monitoring of these restored habitats. The timing of the completion of the three phases is unknown at this time because of the funding needs of the project. Western has initiated a Yuba Salmon Enhancement Fund through a "challenge grant" to SYRCL of $50,000 – Western will match SYRCL's fund-raising of the project dollar for dollar for the first $50,000 raised by SYRCL. Obviously, the project will require funding substantially in excess of the initial seed money. The four parties to the Agreement in Principle also must obtain the consent of certain third parties who have varying interests in some of the lands contemplated for the conservation easement.

Western Aggregates is a sand and gravel mining company that commenced its activities in the Yuba Goldfields in 1987. SYRCL, founded in 1983, is a community-based public benefit organization (501c3) with a mission to protect and restore the Yuba Rivers and the greater Yuba Watershed. Yuba River Preservation Foundation is a 501c3 organization that is dedicated to protect and enhance the Lower Yuba River watershed. Yuba Outdoor Adventures is a fly fishing club operating in two states that engages with biologists and fisheries to promote the study and protection of fisheries.

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