South Yuba River Citizens League

What South Yuba River Citizens League does

South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1983 in Nevada City, California, that operates as the central hub of community activism to protect, restore, and celebrate the Yuba River watershed. The organization delivers a portfolio of K-12 environmental education programs (Salmon Expeditions, WSFF School Program, Trout in the Classroom, YOLO, Pollinator Explorers, High School Water Quality Project), on-the-ground restoration projects across meadows, rivers, and forests, community events including the nationally recognized Wild & Scenic Film Festival and the Annual Yuba River Cleanup, and policy advocacy through its role as the Yuba River Waterkeeper under the California Coastkeeper Alliance. SYRCL serves a regional base of 3,500 members, 1,300 active volunteers, 65,000+ annual event attendees, and thousands of K-12 students across Nevada, Yuba, Sierra, and Sutter counties, while partnering with the Nisenan and Washoe tribes on watershed-scale work.

The organization's product surface is programmatic rather than technological. Core deliverables are field-based educational expeditions, hands-on restoration services (e.g., 6,000+ willow and cottonwood plantings at Hammon Bar, 229 acres of meadow restoration), community-led river monitoring data hosted on riverdb.org, and policy advocacy outputs. Underlying technical components include a 25+ year longitudinal watershed monitoring database, partnerships with engineering firms (cbec eco engineering) and fisheries scientists (Cramer Fish Sciences), and coordination infrastructure with the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA, and Yuba Water Agency for salmonid habitat work.

SYRCL's business model is a diversified nonprofit funding stack. Revenue streams include membership dues (subscription recurring), individual donations and corporate sponsorships (subscription recurring including legacy/planned giving), event revenue (transaction-fee model via the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Wild for the Yuba dinner auction, and the Yuba River Cleanup), and government grants (subscription recurring from CDFW, NOAA Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, Wildlife Conservation Board, and Sierra Meadows Partnership). Education programs use unit pricing ($100/participant for Salmon Expeditions, $5/student for WSFF screenings, $10/student for Pollinator Explorers, freemium for Trout in the Classroom). Distribution is regional, executed through direct community engagement, school partnerships, volunteer programs, and digital channels (website, biweekly e-newsletter, and active social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn).

Name

South Yuba River Citizens League

Legal name

South Yuba River Citizens League

Website

https://yubariver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SYRCL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 in Nevada City, California, that protects, restores, and celebrates the Yuba River watershed through education programs, restoration projects, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, and policy advocacy, serving 3,500 members and 1,300 volunteers across Nevada, Yuba, and Sierra counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Conservation and Environmental Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Watershed conservation services
• Environmental education programs
• Habitat restoration services
• River monitoring programs
• Community environmental advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Nevada City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SYRCL operates as a membership-based organization with 3,500 members supporting the organization through annual dues and ongoing engagement.
2. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and legacy gifts through planned giving programs support the organization's operations.
3. Event Revenue: The Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Wild for the Yuba dinner auction, and other events generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.
4. Government Grants: Funding from California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, Wildlife Conservation Board, and other government sources for habitat restoration projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SYRCL is a nonprofit environmental organization that delivers K-12 environmental education programs, watershed restoration projects (meadow, river, and forest health), community engagement events such as the annual Yuba River Cleanup and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, and advocacy campaigns to protect the Yuba River watershed. Its paid/structured offerings include educational field-trip programs (Salmon Expeditions, Pollinator Explorers, WSFF School Program), ticketed community events, and sponsored restoration initiatives, primarily serving residents of Nevada, Yuba, Sierra, and Sutter counties.

Product overview

SYRCL operates as a nonprofit environmental organization offering a portfolio of education programs, restoration projects, community events, and advocacy initiatives. The core offerings include educational programs such as Salmon Expeditions, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, WSFF School Program, YOLO, Trout in the Classroom, Pollinator Explorers, and High School Water Quality Project. Restoration work encompasses meadow restoration, river restoration, and forest health projects. Community engagement includes the Annual Yuba River Cleanup, River Monitoring Program, and River Ambassador Program. SYRCL is not a technology product company but rather a grassroots environmental advocacy organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Salmon Expeditions Educational field trip program where students and families adventure down the Yuba River to observe spawning salmon, learn about salmon life cycles, local ecology, and human impact on fish populations. School sessions are priced at $100/participant including two classroom lessons and an all-day field trip; public sessions are $100/adult and $75/child, with virtual options and registration opening May 1, 2026 for the September-November 2026 season.
• Wild & Scenic Film Festival Annual environmental and adventure film festival held in Nevada City and Grass Valley, California, featuring films that illustrate planetary beauty, environmental challenges, and community protection efforts. Considered one of the nation's premier environmental film festivals, with 25+ years of programming.
• WSFF School Program Film programming for students from TK through 12th grade, curating age-appropriate content with standards-based curriculum for participating educators. Pricing is $5/student and teacher and $10/parent chaperone for Del Oro Theater screenings, and $5/student for school assembly screenings.
• Youth Outdoor Leadership Opportunity (YOLO) Free five-day summer science expedition for local 9th-12th graders to engage in climate action and watershed restoration efforts, studying meadows in Tahoe National Forest alongside scientists.
• Trout in the Classroom Hands-on science program for grades K-12 allowing students to hatch and raise Chinook salmon and steelhead trout in classrooms. Free to participate; tanks and equipment provided at no cost to Nevada County classrooms; optional fish release field trip is $10/student.
• Pollinator Explorers Two-part program for 1st-2nd grade students including a classroom lesson on pollination and a half-day field trip at Bridgeport, South Yuba River State Park. Priced at $10/student.
• High School Water Quality Project Program engaging 6th-12th grade students in water quality monitoring, data collection, analysis, and interpretation to become River Ambassadors for the Yuba River watershed.
• Environmentalist of the Year Scholarship Annual $4,000 scholarship ($1,000/year for four years) offered to graduating high school seniors in Nevada, Yuba, or Sierra County with a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrated commitment to environmental studies.
• Annual Yuba River Cleanup Annual volunteer event held since 1997 bringing together community members to remove trash and debris from the Yuba River watershed. 135+ tons of garbage and recycling have been removed from the river across the program's history, with the 29th annual event scheduled for September 19, 2026.
• River Monitoring Program Community-led river monitoring initiative operated since 2000 that puts science in the hands of the public, contributing to a high-quality public database on watershed conditions via riverdb.org.
• River Restoration Projects Projects rehabilitating the lower Yuba River for salmon, steelhead, riparian habitat, and wildlife affected by hydraulic mining, dredger mining, dams, and flow alterations. Includes the Hammon Bar, Lower Long Bar, Upper Long Bar, Upper Rose Bar, and Hallwood Side Channel projects.
• Meadow Restoration Projects Restoration work on mountain meadows critical for water storage, water quality, and wildlife habitat in the Yuba watershed, including the Haskell Peak Meadow Restoration Project (229 acres restored) and Galiano Fen & Haypress West projects.
• Forest Health Projects Forest health initiatives addressing overstocked forests susceptible to high-severity wildfire through partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service, private landowners, and nonprofits across 275,000 acres of the North Yuba River watershed as part of the North Yuba Forest Partnership.
• SYRCL Annual Membership Annual membership program supporting SYRCL's watershed protection, restoration, education, and advocacy work; membership base of 3,500 supports the organization through recurring dues and ongoing community engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 135+ tons of garbage and recycling removed from Yuba River since 1997
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Department of Fish and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026SYRCL participates in California Salmon Strategy initiatives coordinated through CDFW, which selected 16 projects for over $10 million in grants for salmon and steelhead habitat restoration funded through NOAA's Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Inflation Reduction Act.
• California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYRCL serves as the Yuba River Waterkeeper and is a member of CCKA. Executive Director Dr. Aaron Zettler-Mann sits on the CCKA Board of Directors. SYRCL participates in CCKA's comprehensive blueprint for modernizing California's water policy.
• H2O AdventurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiver rafting guides from H2O Adventures partner with SYRCL for Salmon Expeditions, providing experienced guides for educational float trips on the lower Yuba River to view spawning salmon.
• Earthwatch InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Earthwatch Institute and Tahoe National Forest hosting yearly Restoring Sierra Meadows expeditions for students interested in STEAM careers. Promotes outdoor equity and inclusion through hands-on environmental research opportunities.
• Tahoe National Forest / U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYRCL works closely with Tahoe National Forest and USFS on meadow assessments and restoration projects focused on revitalization of stream and wetland habitats throughout the Yuba watershed.
• North Yuba Forest PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYRCL is a key partner in this consortium of nine organizations working on unprecedented scale to collaboratively plan, analyze, finance, and implement forest restoration across 275,000 acres of the North Yuba River watershed.
• Yuba Forest NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYRCL serves as the central networking hub connecting resources and practitioners across the watershed to accelerate the pace and scale of forest health projects through stakeholder collaboration.
• Yuba Water AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner on Lower Long Bar Restoration, Upper Long Bar Restoration, Upper Rose Bar Enhancement, and Hallwood Side Channel projects. Yuba Water Agency owns land acquired for salmonid habitat restoration.
• Sierra Meadows PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYRCL receives funding through SMP's Wildlife Conservation Board Block Grant administered by Point Blue. SMP granted $1,000,000 to tribal-led meadow projects.
• Nisenan TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYRCL works on Ancestral and Traditional Homelands of the Nisenan Tribe. The tribe guided development of SYRCL's Land Acknowledgement and participates in collaborative watershed restoration.
• Washoe TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYRCL partnered with the Washoe Tribe on developing trailhead signage at Van Norden Meadow (Yayalu Itdeh in Washoe).
• Wolf Creek Community AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Wolf Creek Community Alliance for Pollinator Palooza City Nature Challenge event.
• American RiversminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a local partner organization working through the Yuba Forest Network.
• Bear Yuba Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a local partner organization working through the Yuba Forest Network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Friends of the River: California-based nonprofit founded in 1973 dedicated to protecting and restoring rivers statewide, including advocacy against new dams and Wild and Scenic designations. Most directly comparable peer given shared California river-advocacy mission, legislative engagement, and grassroots organizing model.
• Tuolumne River Trust: Watershed-specific nonprofit protecting the Tuolumne River in California's Sierra Nevada with restoration, advocacy, and education programs. Closely mirrors SYRCL's single-watershed model, K-12 education offerings, and grassroots membership approach in a neighboring region.
• California Coastkeeper Alliance: Statewide network of Waterkeeper organizations including SYRCL's Yuba River Waterkeeper. Directly comparable as a water-policy advocacy and clean-water coalition partner, with overlapping board representation and joint blueprint for modernizing California water policy.
• Truckee River Watershed Council: Watershed-focused nonprofit in the Sierra Nevada restoring the Truckee River through monitoring, restoration, and community engagement. Closely comparable single-watershed operating model with similar volunteer-driven cleanup events, restoration projects, and education programs.
• Planning and Conservation League: California environmental policy nonprofit advancing legislation on rivers, water, and land conservation. SYRCL's Policy Director previously worked at PCL, indicating deep operating overlap on California water policy, ballot measure campaigns, and legislative advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• American Rivers: National nonprofit focused on river protection and restoration across the United States. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating in the same river-conservation space with policy advocacy, restoration projects, and national membership base, though at a much larger scale than SYRCL's regional focus.
• Sierra Club: One of the oldest and largest environmental organizations in the United States, with deep engagement on California water policy, forest health, and wildlands protection. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in overlapping environmental advocacy and conservation territories, though at much greater scale and geographic breadth.

Regional players

• Bear Yuba Land Trust: Regional land trust serving Nevada County and the Yuba watershed through conservation easements, land acquisition, and stewardship. Listed partner organization working through SYRCL's Yuba Forest Network with directly overlapping geographic focus and conservation mission.
• Sierra Fund: Sierra Nevada-focused foundation supporting environmental health, watershed restoration, and community resilience across the region. Comparable as a Sierra Nevada peer with overlapping restoration, mining-legacy remediation, and grantmaking activities in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Earthwatch Institute: Nonprofit engaging citizens in field science expeditions, including a current partnership with SYRCL hosting Restoring Sierra Meadows expeditions. Comparable as a science-based environmental education and citizen research organization with overlapping youth-STEAM field programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/yubariverpeople
• Facebookfacebook.com/yubariver
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-yuba-river-citizens-league
• Instagraminstagram.com/yubariverpeople
• Xx.com/yubariverpeople

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Yuba River Citizens League