California Construction News staff writer
A major restoration project to bring native fish back to the North Yuba River is moving forward, thanks to a new agreement between state, local and federal agencies.
The formal launch of the Yuba River Resilience Initiative — a partnership between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Yuba Water Agency and NOAA Fisheries — aims to restore access to key spawning habitats for salmon, steelhead and other native species that have been blocked for over a century.
The project includes a range of actions to improve fish passage and modernize water infrastructure, all focused on supporting the recovery of species like the spring-run Chinook salmon, which once thrived in the region before dams cut off their migration routes.
“Today, we stand together with our federal partners to restore our waterways and wildlife,” Newsom said. “Water management isn’t a zero-sum game — it’s about balance.”
The state is contributing $30 million toward the effort, part of a broader $60 million investment from all partners. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026.
Key elements of the initiative include:
- Construction of a new nature-like fishway: A channel designed to mimic a natural stream will give salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and lamprey access to more than 10 miles of upstream habitat currently blocked by Daguerre Point Dam. Built in 1910, the dam has long prevented fish passage.
- Modernized water diversion infrastructure: The project will upgrade the existing diversion system at Daguerre Point Dam to improve fish safety while preserving irrigation water supplies for agriculture in the lower Yuba region.
- Comprehensive fish reintroduction program: Focused on the upper Yuba River watershed, this program will support the return of spring-run Chinook salmon to their historic spawning grounds above New Bullards Bar Reservoir. Monitoring and adaptive management will be used to track progress and respond to changing conditions.
“When state, local and federal partners come together to support native fish and watersheds, we see powerful results,” said CDFW Director Chuck Bonham. “This project reflects a modern way of thinking about rivers — one that values both ecological health and water supply reliability.”
The Daguerre Point Dam is one of two federal dams on the Yuba River, originally constructed to manage debris from Gold Rush-era mining. The new fishway will provide a long-awaited path for fish to bypass the dam safely, improving conditions not only for endangered salmon but also for other native species.
