|
|
|
|
|
Where is the Yuba Watershed?
The Yuba River is located on the west side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California. The South, Middle, and North Forks of the Yuba make up the Yuba River Watershed. The watershed is bordered by the basins of the Feather River to the north, the Truckee River to the east, and the Bear River and American River to the south.
The North Fork of the Yuba flows into New Bullards Bar Reservoir and is joined by the Middle Fork about 5 miles downstream from the 645-foot New Bullards Bar Dam. The South Yuba begins with runoff near Donner Pass high in the Sierra Nevada. Its source is Lake Angela at 7,190 feet. The South Yuba runs for 64 miles before joining the other two forks at Englebright Reservoir to form the main stem of the Yuba.
Where does the water in the Yuba go?
The Yuba Watershed drains approximately 1,300 square miles on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, from a maximum of 9,100 feet at Mt. Lola in the high Sierras to around 30 feet at the mouth. The Yuba River is the third largest by volume of all the Sierra Rivers. The South Yuba, contributing only 17 percent of the total flow, drains 352 square miles. The Middle Yuba drains 210 square miles, and the North Yuba 491 square miles.
The three forks meet to form the Yuba's main stem, which joins the Feather River at Marysville. The Feather flows into the Sacramento as it heads for the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
What is the Yuba's landscape like?
Sierra Crest. The forks of the Yuba begin in the high country of the Sierras. This region, 6,000 feet and higher, is characterized by pockets of red fir, lodgepole pine, and hemlock; exposed granite outcrops; and some of the highest snowfall levels in the country.
Ridge and Canyon. As the rivers descend below 6,000 feet, they enter a region where steep canyons plunge 2,000 feet down between long, flat-topped, east-west ridges. Ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Douglas fir, white fir, and incense cedar thrive in this area where 50-70 inches of precipitation fall each year.
Foothills. Between 3000 and 500 feet of elevation, the rivers wind their way through the foothills. Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and incense cedar are gradually replaced by several types of oaks, broad-leaf maple, gray pine; chaparral species such as manzanita, madrone, buckeye; and a multi-colored carpet of wildflowers in the spring.
Who lives in the Yuba Watershed?
The Yuba River provides habitat for many mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and insects, as well as a diversity of plant types. Deer, bears, and mountain lions range widely in the river canyon. The endangered bald eagle and spotted owl frequent the area, in addition to many other resident and migratory birds. The lower Yuba supports some of California's last remaining wild runs of Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. Newts, salamanders, and tree frogs are common, and the foothill yellow-legged frog, a species of special concern, has been spotted on the South Yuba.
The Yuba is also very important to its human community. It provides water and power for cities both inside and outside the watershed as well as spectacular recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
Why visit the Yuba River?
The Yuba is a stunningly beautiful river. In the upper watershed, the river canyons' steep, tree-lined sides drop down into riverbeds lined with sculpted granite boulders. Clear water rushes over rapids and flows gently through deep blue-green pools. The river corridor is largely wild, with no roads running along most of its length, though bridge crossings and numerous trails make the river easily accessible to human visitors.
Over half a million people visit the South Yuba alone each year. The Yuba's three forks provide a variety of recreational opportunities: popular swimming holes, camping and picnicking areas, miles of hiking trails, and challenging whitewater sections for river runners.
Some Facts About the South Yuba
| In 1999, a 39-mile stretch of the South Yuba was declared Wild and Scenic by the state of California. |
| From Spaulding Dam in the upper part of the river to Englebright Reservoir just after it joins the main stem, over half of the river corridor is public land. |
| The South Yuba River State Park is a unique river-centered state park that stretches 21 miles upstream from the South Yuba's mouth. |
| The bridge at Bridgeport in the South Yuba River State Park is the longest single-span wooden covered bridge in the U.S. |
| The South Yuba's 5-mile-long Independence Trail is the country's longest wheelchair-accessible wilderness trail. |
|
|
|
|
