Initiated by Governor Newsom in 2020, the state of California launched an ambitious plan to conserve 30% of its lands and coastal waters by the year 2030. In the subsequent five years, the “30×30 Plan” has made significant progress. This collaborative effort has brought together conservationists, scientists, policymakers, and communities to protect vital ecosystems, increase access to nature, and preserve biodiversity hotspots. However, as California nears realization of these goals, an important question arises: how do freshwater systems (like the Yuba) fit into this plan?

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), a leading advocate for the Yuba River watershed, believes that the protection of freshwater resources is crucial to the success of 30×30. However, SYRCL sees that freshwater resources are largely overlooked in the plan when it comes to protecting additional areas.  Freshwater rivers and their corridors are not only the lifeblood of California biodiversity, but they are also crucial for the well-being of our communities and resilience of our environment.

As the call to action at their Wild and Scenic Film Festival this year, SYRCL is asking the community to join them in urging decision makers to add explicit protections for California’s rivers, creeks, and other freshwater ecosystems in the state’s landmark 30×30 Plan. While the 30×30 Plan outlines an ambitious agenda to safeguard 30% of coastal and terrestrial lands throughout the state by 2030, it lacks specific guidance and tools for protecting our freshwater ecosystems.  SYRCL is asking the community to tell California’s leaders to address this gap in their plan and deliver a comprehensive pathway for the future of our State.

SYRCL has released a letter on their website at YubaAction.org which allows community members to sign on and show their support.

The letter asks lawmakers to implement particular measures to protect freshwater resources: 

  • Implement stronger protections for both rivers and the land that surrounds the waterways, including the designation of new Wild and Scenic Rivers and Outstanding Natural Resource Waters.  
  • Prioritize and invest in large-scale restoration and conservation projects as part of new funding from Proposition 4 that improve water quality, restore natural river flow regimes, and enhance habitat connectivity . 
  • Foster collaboration with Indigenous groups to ensure that conservation efforts are inclusive and effective.

California’s 30×30 Plan is a positive step toward a sustainable future. However, to fully achieve the conservation goals laid out in the plan, freshwater ecosystems must be elevated as a priority. By incorporating freshwater ecosystems and rivers into the plan, we can ensure that these lifelines of biodiversity receive the protection they deserve.

SYRCL is appealing to the community to work together to advocate for the prioritization of freshwater ecosystems in California’s 30×30 Plan.

You can learn more during the Wild and Scenic Film Festival, February 13-27 in Nevada City and Grass Valley or you can sign on to their letter at YubaAction.org.

Our rivers are counting on us; let’s safeguard their vital role in California’s conservation efforts. Together, we can achieve a future in California where both people and nature thrive.

About SYRCL: The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) is the leading voice for the protection and restoration of the Yuba River watershed. Founded in 1983 through a rural, grassroots campaign to defend the South Yuba River from proposed hydropower dams, SYRCL has developed into a vibrant community organization with more than 3,500 members and volunteers. To learn more, visit www.yubariver.org.