Title:  Dam Removal on the Yuba River

 

Author:  Jonathan Hillerich

Abstract:

The Yuba River Watershed in Central California has strong support from organizations such as the South Yuba River Citizen’s League (SYRCL) that are actively promoting an environment that is untouched and pristine in order to help preserve and rebuild anadromous fish population as well as natural beauty.  However, this goal is a difficult one to accomplish due to the history of mining and dam construction that has been a strong part of the area’s culture for hundreds of years.  This paper outlines the conflicts of dam removal that have plagued the area and breaks down the reasons for those conflicts using both social and ecological approaches.

Key References:

James, L. Allan. (2005).  Sediment from hydraulic mining detained by Englebright and small dams in the Yuba basin.  Geomorphology, 71, 202-226.

Knight, Samuel. (1898).  Federal Control of Hydraulic Mining.  The Yale Law Journal, 7, 385-392

Pejchar, L; Warner, K.  A River Might Run Through It Again: Criteria for Consideration of Dam Removal and Interim Lessons from California Environmental Management [Environ. Manage.]. Vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 561-575. Nov 2001.

South Yuba River Citizen’s League. www.syrcl.org

 

 

 

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Date: May 2008
Student: jhilleri@willamette.edu
ENVR 327: Water Resources
Instructor: Dr. Karen Arabas
http://www.willamette.edu/~karabas/courses/envr327w