Protected Sanctuary Waters at risk
The lower Yuba River above Daguerre Point Dam (DPD) is a:
- wild salmon and steelhead sanctuary
- world renowned destination wild trout and steelhead fishery
- California Fish and Game Commission, “Designated Wild Trout Water”
- critical part of salmon and steelhead recovery on the west coast.
There is a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) zero take regulation for wild steelhead and a zero take, no target regulation for salmon on the lower Yuba from Englebright Dam to the Feather River.
The DPD Nature-Like Fishway (NLF) is focused on fish passage for all fish species, but does not include any plan to address “Predation of juveniles.” The main predators of juvenile salmon and steelhead on the lower Yuba are striped bass that cannot pass the existing fish ladders at DPD. Currently juvenile predation by striped bass is confined below DPD, but the project as conceived will allow striped bass to move into the sanctuary waters above the dam for the first time since it’s construction in the 1960’s.
Why is the Daguerre Point Dam Nature-Like Fishway being built?
The DPD NLF was proposed in 2023 by:
In combination, these recovery plans have led the agencies to implement the DPD NLF project that includes installing modern fish entrainment screens on the south irrigation diversion canal. The Army Corps of Engineers operated dam and fish ladders will remain as is.
The 60 million dollar project is funded, currently being designed, and is expected to begin construction next summer, 2026. Estimated time to completion is not yet known.
What’s being done to protect the sanctuary waters?
- April, 2024: a letter from the Gold Country Fly Fishers (GCFF) Conservation Education Committee (CEC) along with other interested parties raised predation concerns with agency leaders and asked to meet with them.
- April 2025: Two meetings were held, well attended by the fishing and conservation communities.
- June 2025: Members of the GCFF CEC were added to the Pre- and Post- Monitoring technical team for the NLF project.
- August 2025: GCFF CEC worked with project leaders to direct the technical team to develop a summary of existing knowledge about lower Yuba predation which is due in mid-October, 2025 (also known as a ‘white paper’).
- August 2025: Project leaders committed to use that information to work together to implement a written goal for the project to address predation management and monitoring that currently does not exist for the project.
- The GCFF CEC continues to engage a growing group of stakeholders and interested parties.
Your Voice Makes a Difference!
While progress is encouraging today, many different outcomes are possible. Your voice of support is needed to be sure the lower Yuba River sanctuary waters and fish are protected from unmitigated predation.
Return to this website to receive updates. If actions are needed to convince project leaders to take the prudent actions necessary to protect our fish, you will be the first to know!
Does a proposed effort to aid Yuba River fish
clear a way for predators?
SacBee.comGold Country Fly Fishers Moves to Protect Wild Yuba River Salmon and Steelhead
September 3, 2025, Grass Valley, California
The Gold Country Fly Fishers (GCFF) club has been in the Grass Valley area for almost 40 years. The club meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the Nevada County Fairground in the Ponderosa building. The club's purpose is to promote the art of fly fishing and promote and support the conservation of fisheries, with particular emphasis on the “Catch and Release” ethic. GCFF members work to publicize and promote fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying, and related subjects.
GCFF’s main outreach programs have been focused on youth by hosting or supporting countless kid’s fishing outings, fishing derbies, fly casting instruction, fly tying instruction and helping with local Scouting and educational programs. GCFF offers monthly fly casting instruction from the very beginner basics to advanced level casting skills for adult members and guests. Fly tying skills and fishing information are also available to help get both new and experienced fishers out fly fishing in a family atmosphere.
GCFF is participating again in the annual Yuba Fest at Sycamore Ranch Park off Highway 20 east of Marysville on September 6, 2025 from 8 am to 4 pm. Yuba Fest is open to the public and is a celebration of the Yuba River for all people who fish and recreate on the river and to celebrate the people and groups that work to preserve and enhance the Yuba watershed.
This year, the Yuba Fest theme takes on a more significant meaning because of the proposed Nature Like Fishway (NLF) at Daguerre Point Dam (DPD). The fishway, estimated to cost about 60 million dollars, will allow all fish species to navigate upstream of the dam. This will include striped bass that eat growing salmon, steelhead and trout and American shad that compete for resources and eat fish eggs and small fish. There are concerns that allowing striped bass and shad above the Daguerre Point Dam will further threaten the endangered wild salmon and the wild steelhead and trout fishery.
The lower Yuba River above Daguerre Point Dam is a wild salmon and steelhead sanctuary, a world renowned destination wild steelhead and trout fishery, a California Fish and Game Commission, “Designated Wild Trout Water,” and is a critical part of wild salmon and steelhead recovery on the west coast.
The DPD was rebuilt in the 1960’s to include two fish ladders on either end of the dam. The dam was built to retain remnant hydraulic mining sediments and provide irrigation diversions. While the ladders still work when cleaned and maintained, the design is old and causes migration delays, particularly for wild spring-run salmon. The US Army Corp of Engineers operates the dam, but has not consistently maintained the ladders or planned for upgrades. Currently the fish ladders at DPD prevent the upstream movement of sturgeon, striped bass, and shad.
In 2014 the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) salmon and steelhead recovery plan listed, “Passage impediment at Daguerre Point Dam affecting adult immigration and juvenile outmigration” and “Predation of juveniles” as two key stressors on the lower Yuba for these endangered fish. In 2018 the NMFS green sturgeon recovery plan identified DPD as a migration barrier for sturgeon. In 2015, CDFW identified Pacific Lamprey as a Species of Special Concern and listed passage barriers like DPD as a key threat. Based on these plans, fisheries agencies have been focused on Daguerre Point Dam for modifications. Unfortunately, the NLF project does not yet plan to manage predation issues.
The sturgeon recovery plan calls for two rivers supporting a reproducing sturgeon population and the Sacramento River currently supports only one. The plan indicates that the portion of the Lower Yuba above DPD is the only river reach that might meet the criteria for a second reproducing sturgeon population.
GCFF took the lead to protect the lower Yuba sanctuary above DPD from the introduction of non-native predators. As a result of an April 2024 letter, two public meetings with agency representatives were held in April 2025. These meetings led to members of GCFF being included in technical team meetings to address predation concerns resulting from the NLF project. GCFF is working with an enlarged stakeholder group and NLF project leaders to include a predation monitoring and management program as part of the project goals and operations.
Come to Yuba Fest on September 6 at Sycamore Ranch Park to learn more about the Daguerre Point Dam Nature Like Fishway project, its impacts on the Yuba River and how to get involved in protecting this world renowned wild steelhead and trout fishing destination and take the opportunity for you and your family to pick up a fly rod and try a few casts.