Friends of the River

10/06/2026

Much is at stake for California’s rivers right now.

Final votes are on the horizon for the Bay-Delta Plan, the state’s most important regulations for protecting the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary.

In a last-minute twist, the Trump Administration has opened a new front in its fight with California, opposing even the weak water quality standards the state is preparing to finalize.

Friends of the River is urging California to stand up for its authority and push back against efforts to weaken protections and maximize water deliveries.

We need your voice now more than ever. It only takes a few minutes to send a short email to decision-makers.

👉 Learn more and take action: https://www.headwatersonline.org/the-river-advocate/65w1mha3grriscsj9ionpbisml3efo?blm_aid=1165313

10/06/2026

Thank you for an incredible Rendezvous by the River! 💙

Thank you to everyone who joined us this past weekend for a beautiful night celebrating California’s rivers, the people who love them, and the communities, wildlife, and adventures they make possible.

Your support makes a real difference. By showing up, sharing your generosity, and standing with Friends of the River, you are helping protect the rivers we love and keep them healthy and flowing for generations to come.

And it takes a river-sized community to make an evening like this happen!

A special thank you to:

🍽️ Diane Wilkinson, for catering the event and for being such a longtime supporter of Friends of the River.

🌊 Charlie Center and Camp Lotus , for welcoming us and providing such a beautiful setting along the South Fork American River.

💪 The California Conservation Corps and our amazing Friends of the River volunteers, who helped set up, host, and tear down the event. We couldn’t have done it without you!

🍷 Convergence Vineyards, for providing the w**e for the evening.

And to our incredible sponsors, All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting, ARTA, OARS American River Outpost, Sierra Mac River Trips, A-Total Fire Protection Co., Marco's Cafe , Mother Lode River Center , and River Runners, thank you for supporting Friends of the River and helping make this celebration possible.

We are so grateful to everyone who came together to celebrate and protect the rivers that bring us together.

Here’s to California’s rivers, and to all of us who stand up for them. 💙🌊

10/05/2026

California’s new Water Plan calls for an astonishing 9 million acre-feet of additional water storage or “new” water, raising questions about the cost, feasibility, and impacts of trying to squeeze more water from already overallocated rivers.

We’re taking a closer look at what this ambitious water goal could mean for California’s rivers and communities.

👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/4xTR9mu

10/02/2026

One of the biggest new water projects in decades – the proposed Sites Reservoir – is just one step away from being approved by the State Water Resources Control Board in early November.

On September 3, the Water Board’s Administrative Hearings Office released a final draft water rights permit for the project, which would divert water from the Sacramento River into a large reservoir in the western Sacramento Valley.

The latest version of the permit removes meaningful protections for river ecosystems and water quality.

The State Water Resources Control Board NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU before it makes its decision.

👉 Learn more and Take Action: https://www.headwatersonline.org/the-river-advocate/t9hguku1hrhbrp2qezqazw1y9d9a6g?blm_aid=1165313

09/29/2026

⏳ONLY 24 HOURS LEFT to secure your tickets and be part of an unforgettable night. Rendezvous by the River is happening this Saturday, October 3rd, but TICKET SALES CLOSE TOMORROW Sept 30th at midnight.

💙 This fundraiser isn’t just about keeping the lights on — it’s about keeping rivers alive. The support we raise directly powers the advocacy, education, and policy efforts that safeguard California’s rivers for generations to come.

🫶 If you can't join us, consider DONATING! Every dollar helps protect our future.

📅 Rendezvous by the River - Saturday, October 3, 2026
📍 Camp Lotus, Lotus, CA

What’s Happening:
🍹 Happy Hour by the river — 4:30 pm
🍽️ Dinner in community — 6:00 pm
🛍️ Silent Auction — unique treasures & experiences
🎸 Live Music — dance under the stars with The Deep Blue Lead 🎶

🎟 Get your tickets today: https://www.friendsoftheriver.org/rendezvous-by-the-river/

Let’s come together by the river, honor what we’ve achieved, and dream boldly about what’s ahead. 💧💫

09/25/2026

💧 The Drip: Is Sites Reservoir worth it?

Sites Reservoir barely passed the financial feasibility test in 2021—and since then the project cost estimate has increased by nearly $2 billion dollars. The project is now estimated to cost $6.2-6.8 billion, and possibly up to $9 billion, before change orders drive costs up further. In 2021 its benefit-cost ratio was at the razor’s edge of being positive, only 1.018.

Want proof?

09/25/2026

ONE WEEK TO GO! 🌊🎉

The tables are coming together. The details are being finalized. The staff is getting ready. And we’re putting the finishing touches on Rendezvous by the River!

One week from today, we’ll be gathering along the beautiful South Fork American River for an evening of good food, drinks, live music, laughter, and river-loving community.

These photos from last year give you a preview of what’s waiting for you. We’re busy behind the scenes getting everything ready, and we can’t wait to welcome you back to the river.

And yes, tickets are still available!

📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026
📍 Camp Lotus, South Fork American River
🌊 Rendezvous by the River

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is the time to get your ticket.

👉 Get your tickets today and come celebrate with your river community! https://www.friendsoftheriver.org/rendezvous-by-the-river/

09/23/2026

🌊 Can’t make it Oct 3rd to Rendezvous by the River? You can still show up for California’s rivers. 💙

When you make a gift to Friends of the River, you’re helping support the people, advocacy, and grassroots action that keep California’s rivers flowing.

Your support helps us speak up for rivers, organize communities, and fight for the rivers we all depend on.

👉 Donate Today by visiting: https://www.friendsoftheriver.org/make-a-donation/

Because rivers can’t protect themselves — they need friends like you. 💧

09/23/2026

Cold water isn’t a luxury for salmon. It’s a necessity. 🐟🐟🐟

The Sacramento River has gotten too warm for salmon eggs. Environmental advocates blame the Trump administration for taking too much water out of Shasta Lake.

09/22/2026

FOR honors the memory of Byron Sher, who recently passed away at the age of 98. Among his many important environmental achievements, Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto) championed the 1989 Wild and Scenic Rivers legislation that now protects the McCloud river from the proposed Shasta Dam Raise.

Byron Sher, a Stanford law professor-turned California legislator who wrote some of the state’s most far-reaching environmental laws, died Saturday. He was 98.