A Note for Our Readers: What to Expect from FOR for the Next 4 Years

Facing the barrage of Executive Orders that have been hurled from our nation’s capital over the last few weeks has been tough for all of us. As the underpinnings of good government degrade, the need for good information and technical competency will fall more heavily on the non-profit and educational sectors. We are already feeling this. At FOR, we have been clarifying misinformation, analyzing implications, educating our elected leaders, building alliances with other organizations, seeking additional legal, scientific, and organizing resources, and pursuing proactive strategies to defend against and to confront these very real threats.

We will do our best to inform you of the facts, help you make sense of what is happening, tell you what we are doing, and let you know when and how we need you to take action. We need you to be part of Friends of the River to have the greatest impact to protect rivers, water, and people. Bon Courage…

Jann Dorman, Executive Director

California River Awards - April 25

The Verdi Club, San Francisco

This year our California River Awards event is more important than ever. Not only do we need to raise over $150K to stand up for California Rivers in the face of unprecedented threats. But we also need to raise our collective voice even louder, which means growing the number of people who are willing to take action for rivers, through donations and activism.

In order to grow our community and our movement, we ask that you to start planning now to bring your friends and relatives to the event. Online auctions are also a great channel to reach new supporters. Please help by donating an auction item or consider a sponsorship to help generate interest and excitement for the event.

Honorees will be announced soon! Please stay tuned! And, we hope to see you there. 😉

Auctioneer Freddie Silveria at the 2023 CRA.

Guide Activist Training - Volunteer River Guides Needed

California rivers are facing unprecedented threats, and we need to grow our river program in order to grow our grassroots network of influencers, activists, and supporters. There is no better way to understand the importance of rivers to nature and our lives, than by experiencing them. We are training and selecting our 2025 volunteer crew now.

If you or someone you know would like to learn how to be a raft guide, please consider our Guide Activist Training this April 11-19 on the South Fork of the American River.

If you are an experienced private boater or commercial rafting guide, please contact us if you would like to volunteer.

FOR IS HIRING an Engagement Manager and River Operations Coordinator. Please scroll down for more information.

This month’s Currents highlights key challenges and opportunities for California’s water future, with a focus on how President Trump’s early executive actions are affecting the state’s rivers.

First, we provide an in-depth analysis of President Trump's war on California water management, and highlight Governor Newsom's relative silence--and potential alignment--with Trump's attacks.

Next, we break down a Presidential Executive Order that once again kick-starts the Shasta Dam Raise project, which would destroy a pristine stretch of the protected McCloud River--and interfere with State's rights in the process.

Lastly, we provide an update on the El Dorado County Water Agency's attempt to take up to 40,000 acre-feet of water from the South Fork of the American River.

Shasta Dam in Oct 2022. CA DWR.

River Favorites: Tule River

I grew up spending summers in the Sequoia National Forest, in the Tule River watershed, at the family cabin my parents bought before I was born. Once school let out, my mom, my siblings, and I would head to the cabin, staying until the day before school started again. Along Highway 190, as you travel up the Middle Fork of the Tule River, we had several favorite spots to check out. My favorite—the one that still brings back the deep sense of home the mountains give me—is… Read More

Has Sacramento really hated water meters for 100 years? (Sacramento Bee)

Yes, once upon a time, most of the California Central Valley’s major communities did not use water meters. The Sacramento Bee celebrated the installation of Sacramento’s last previously unmetered connection with a piece on how the water meter ban came to Sacramento, apologized for its crusade to keep the ban, and fingered FOR’s Ron Stork as one of the ringleaders of the statewide legislation that lifted the meter bans all over California.

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FOR worked in high gear this last month to react to the firehose of misinformation spewed by President Trump about California water. In an interview on NBC social media, FOR Program Director Gary Bobker clarified that protections for delta smelt use a very small amount of water (Instagram reel), if any at all. Gary also spoke with the LA Times on how Trump's water policy wishlist would harm Californians. FOR also spoke with the LA Times to address Governor Newsom’s decision to imitate Trump's policies.

A digest and analysis of the chaos of this last month is given in this month's Currents articles.

Gary Bobker, FOR's Program Director, speaks with NBC's social media team.

HIRING (NEW): River Operations Coordinator

This full-time role is perfect for someone who loves rivers, outdoor adventures, and inspiring others to take action. As the River Operations Coordinator for Friends of the River, you’ll plan and lead river trips, coordinate volunteers, and help grow a passionate community of river advocates. You'll also support outreach events and maintain key organizational systems to advance river protection efforts. If you're an energetic team player with event coordination skills and a passion for environmental advocacy, apply today!

HIRING: Engagement Manager

Join Friends of the River as our Engagement Manager and help protect California’s rivers! This full-time role is perfect for a passionate advocate ready to inspire action, build coalitions, and create meaningful connections with volunteers and partners. From organizing outdoor adventures to driving impactful campaigns, you’ll be at the heart of efforts to preserve our waterways. Based in Sacramento, this position offers competitive pay, great benefits, and the chance to make a real difference. Love rivers? Apply today!

Headwaters - Accepting Submissions

Friends of the River's Headwaters Magazine is a beautiful repository of articles about rivers and river recreation, opinion pieces, policy analysis, river news, art, photographs, and more.

We welcome submissions of articles that speak to the six areas in which we work for the protection of California's rivers. These areas are hydropower reform, saving and storing water, restoring flows, flood management, legal and regulatory protections, and inspiring citizen action. We also welcome submissions of visual art, creative writing, poetry, and photos that are centered around rivers and nature more broadly.

Not sure what to submit? Let's work together. More info here. Please email keiko@friendsoftheriver.org to discuss a submission.

Please consider a generous gift to help FOR fight the Triple Threat to Rivers. This will be a critical year to stop Sites Reservoir, the Delta Tunnel and the Voluntary Agreements.