Dams and reservoirs are a hidden source of powerful greenhouse gas emissions—and California isn’t even counting them. Friends of the River is calling on state regulators to close this gap, and you can help by signing our petition to hold dam operators accountable.

Last month, Friends of the River staff traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for stronger protections for California’s rivers—meeting with members of Congress and joining a nationwide coalition working to expand Wild & Scenic River designations.

A catastrophic penstock failure at the Colgate Powerhouse caused major damage, stranded workers, and disrupted flows to the North Yuba River. Repairs could take years, with reduced water releases, lost power generation, and a federal investigation underway.

Federal funding is prioritizing repairs to sinking Central Valley canals over new dams, while still advancing plans to raise Shasta Dam—raising concerns for the protected McCloud River.

Friends of the River welcomes three new team members to the crew. Vivian Helliwell and Andy Colonna join as North Coast Policy Associates, and Carolyn Hart comes on as Development & Accounting Assistant, strengthening our work to protect rivers across California.