Power and the River: The History of Hydropower in Nevada County and Why FERC Relicensing Matters Now More Than Ever
For more than a century, the rivers of Nevada County have powered homes and industries across California. But behind the light switches and irrigation canals lies a story of massive infrastructure, diverted flows, and dramatic ecological damage — especially for native fish such as salmon and steelhead. Today, with the federal relicensing of major hydropower projects in the region nearing completion, we have a rare and urgent opportunity to speak up for the health of our rivers and the species that depend on them. SYRCL’s advocacy on behalf of the environment, and the impacts of dam operations on the environment, will help establish dam operations and requirements until 2075 and beyond.
A Legacy of Dams and Diversions
The first hydropower developments in Nevada County date back to the late 1800s, when mining companies began building small diversion dams to channel water for hydraulic gold mining. This early hydropower development directly harnessed the power of water and gravity to erode entire landscapes in the pursuit of gold. Moving water great distances for use in high powered water cannons remained the predominant motivation for hydropower development until the Sawyer Decision banned hydraulic mining in 1882. However, the infrastructure remained.
As demand for electricity grew in the early 20th century, so did the scale and ambition of these projects – transitioning from using the direct power of water to move material to harnessing that energy to create electricity. By the 1920s and ’30s, public and private utilities were constructing high-capacity dams, reservoirs, and powerhouses to send electricity down the foothills to Sacramento and the Bay Area.
These weren’t just small-scale local efforts. Nevada County became a critical link in a statewide hydropower network, harnessing the energy of the Sierra snowpack to power California’s growing cities and farms. The result was a sprawling maze of infrastructure — canals, flumes, tunnels, reservoirs, and dams — built across and linking multiple watersheds.
Among the largest and most impactful of these projects are the Yuba River Development Project, operated by the Yuba Water Agency (YWA), the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project, operated by the Nevada Irrigation District (NID), and the Drum-Spaulding Project, operated by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Together they span multiple counties, interlinking the projects together with more than 30 dams and reservoirs, dozens of powerhouses, and hundreds of miles of canals across the North, Middle, and South Yuba, Bear, and American River watersheds.
How are Hydropower Dams Regulated?
Most hydropower projects in the U.S. are licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).1 Licenses are issued for 40 to 50 years and dictate how a project must be operated, including how much water must be released downstream (known as instream flows), fish passage requirements, recreation access, and environmental monitoring.
Many of these licenses were put in place fifty years ago, before our benchmark environmental laws were adopted, and, as such, little thought was given to the potential impacts to fish, the environment, and recreation. Today, though, we have a clear understanding of how these projects have significantly harmed our river ecosystems.
Now we have an opportunity. When a FERC license expires, the operator must apply for a new one — a process called relicensing. This is not just a bureaucratic box-checking exercise; it’s a once-in-a-generation chance to assess the environmental and community impacts of a project and to push for strong protections for rivers and wildlife. Fifty years since the initial licenses were written, they are up for renewal. This means we have the opportunity to incorporate better environmental understanding into licenses for the next 40-50 years.
FERC’s Role in Assessing License Conditions Involves a Balancing Act.
According to the law, the commission must weigh the benefits of hydropower generation against the need to protect environmental and recreational resources. FERC must ensure that these hydropower projects contribute to energy production while also safeguarding fish, water quality, and recreation. This balancing act relies heavily on environmental review. Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FERC is required to conduct environmental reviews to assess the potential environmental impacts of a project and consider alternatives and conditions that could mitigate these negative impacts. This environmental review occurs during relicensing, and, as such, only occurs once every fifty years.
Mitigating Negative Impacts is a Crucial Part of this Process.
For example, if a project dam or infrastructure blocks the river and access to fishing and whitewater boating, the dam owner should provide safe and legal access to the river. Diversions out of the river should be screened to prevent fish from being sucked in and killed. Projects operated to generate power need to mitigate their operations to ensure fish aren’t left high and dry if water releases abruptly stop.
The hydroelectric projects on the Yuba and Bear rivers began the relicensing process over a decade ago, but final decisions from FERC (and the State of California) are still pending. That means the choices made in the coming months will shape the future of our rivers until 2075 and beyond.
The Cost of Power: Salmon, Steelhead, and Altered Flows
One of the most severe impacts of these hydropower projects has been the loss of natural river flows, especially during spring and early summer when salmon and steelhead would historically migrate, spawn, and rear young. Winter water and spring snowmelt are held behind the dams and are released throughout the summer to generate electricity and provide water for irrigation.
Dams also fragment habitat, blocking access to habitat above a dam, and preventing the natural downstream flow of nutrients and crucial habitat components like large trees.
The Yuba River, once home to hundreds of thousands of spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, has been especially hard hit. Today, spring-run Chinook are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and steelhead are in steep decline. The South Yuba, in particular, has seen flows diverted into canals and tunnels that bypass miles of riverbed — removing water from the river and diverting it to the South Yuba canal or the Bear River watershed.
These projects provide hydropower, water storage, and, in some cases, flood protection. However, they do so at a great ecological cost. Balancing the social benefits of these projects in the face of a changing climate and new, more efficient and less environmentally harmful power generation sources is a complex problem with no single correct solution. What we know based on the environmental damage of the previous license terms is that without greatly improved environmental conditions in the new FERC licenses, this pattern of degradation will continue for decades.
SYRCL’s Role: Science, Advocacy, and a Voice for the River
At the South Yuba River Citizens League, we’ve been working for over 40 years to protect and restore the Yuba River watershed. That includes fighting for better hydropower operations that support — not sacrifice — native fish and river health.
During the FERC relicensing process, SYRCL has:
- Submitted expert scientific studies on flow needs for salmon and steelhead
- Advocated for minimum flow requirements that mimic more natural seasonal patterns
- Pushed for better fish passage solutions and water quality monitoring
- Worked with community partners to elevate public awareness and participation
- Promoted a balanced approach that ensures hydropower projects produce energy while protecting river ecosystems
SYRCL’s goal in this process is to make sure that all potential impacts are carefully evaluated and addressed, leading to more sustainable and balanced license conditions.
Our goal is challenging but powerful: to make sure our rivers can support both people and wildlife.
What You Can Do: Speak Up for the Yuba
FERC relicensing can seem technical and slow-moving, but public awareness and pressure make a difference. This is a critical moment—after more than a decade of studies and negotiations; decisions are on the horizon. Here’s how you can help:
- Stay informed. Follow SYRCL updates on our social media platforms and sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter.
- Write a letter. Tell NID, PG&E, and FERC that healthy flows for fish and people matter to you.
- Attend meetings. Public comments are a powerful tool — show up and speak out.
- Support restoration. Donations to SYRCL go directly toward science, advocacy, and habitat restoration work.
The Next Chapter is Up to Us
Dams and hydropower have long shaped the rivers of Nevada County — but they don’t have to define them. With new licenses come new possibilities. We have a rare chance to right some of the historic wrongs and find a balanced approach where hydropower doesn’t come at the expense of our rivers, our salmon, or our sense of place.
Let’s make sure the next chapter in this story is one of restoration, not more damage.
Join us. The Yuba needs your voice.
This post originally appeared on SYRCL.
