Our
Work
At Yosemite Rivers Alliance, we unite conservation and community to protect and restore the rivers that flow through the Yosemite Region: the Tuolumne, Merced, and Stanislaus.
From high-country forests and meadows to Central Valley parks and Bay-Delta waters, we take a watershed-wide approach so that when one part of the system heals, the whole region grows more resilient.
We keep the Yosemite Region thriving by protecting its waters, healing its habitats, fortifying its forests, and uplifting the people who care for them.
The Hidden Power of Yosemite’s Rivers.
The impact of these rivers runs deeper than you think. They deliver drinking water to over 3 million people, nourish 480,000 acres of farmland that feed the nation, sustain the livelihoods of local communities, and inspire the millions who enjoy recreation in the Yosemite Region. Knowing where your water comes from matters so we can all protect what keeps California flowing.
Clean
Water &
River Protection
Defending the flows that keep Yosemite — and your tap — alive.
The rivers of the Yosemite region supply clean water to millions of Californians, sustain Bay-Delta wildlife, recharge groundwater, and nourish farm country. But in many years, only a fraction of natural flows make it downstream — leaving salmon struggling to return, wetlands drying out, and entire ecosystems on the brink.
We work at the intersection of science, policy, and community advocacy to restore healthy, natural river flows on the Tuolumne, Merced, and Stanislaus. Through state and federal water proceedings, collaborative planning, and public engagement, we push for modern water management that keeps more water in the river where it belongs.
From the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan to the licensing of hydropower dams, we show up in the rooms where decisions about your water are made — so that the rivers that start in Yosemite can continue flowing all the way to the sea.
Wildlife &
Habitat
Restoration
Rebuilding the ecosystems that make this watershed alive.
When we restore a meadow, reconnect a floodplain, or rebuild salmon habitat, we’re repairing the natural systems that wildlife depend on — and strengthening the entire watershed from the Sierra crest to the Central Valley.
Our restoration teams work across landscapes: reshaping floodplains at La Grange to support Chinook salmon and steelhead, constructing beaver-inspired structures that heal degraded meadows, and restoring riparian forests along the lower rivers. These projects bring back critical habitat for birds, amphibians, pollinators, and native fish — and they help rivers store water, filter pollutants, and recover from drought.
Using a whole-watershed approach, we take on ambitious restoration efforts that deliver results: healthier rivers, stronger wildlife populations, and landscapes better able to thrive in a changing climate.
Forest
Health
& Climate Resilience
Restoring Sierra forests so communities and ecosystems can thrive.
Healthy headwater forests are the foundation of healthy rivers. They store snowpack, regulate flows, reduce wildfire severity, and support the wildlife and communities downstream. After megafires like the 2013 Rim Fire, large stretches of forest in the Yosemite region need careful, science-driven restoration to recover.
We lead and collaborate on large-scale forest health projects that bring resilient, diverse forests back to the landscape. From reforestation across thousands of acres in the Rim Fire burn scar to fuel-reduction and climate adaptation work through the SERAL project, our teams and partners are helping rebuild forests that can withstand wildfire, drought, and the accelerating impacts of climate change.
These efforts protect homes, wildlife, water supplies, and downstream communities — creating climate-ready forests that support a thriving watershed for generations.
Community,
Education
& Partnerships
Uniting the people who care for Yosemite’s rivers.
Communities are at the heart of river protection. From Central Valley youth leaders shaping park equity policy to volunteers planting trees in the high country, we empower people of all ages to take meaningful action for the places they call home.
Our education programs bring river ecology, water literacy, and outdoor exploration to thousands of young people each year — connecting them with the watershed through classroom lessons, field trips, and immersive adventures. In Modesto and across the region, we partner with residents to co-design parks, trail systems, river access improvements, and community-driven restoration projects that reflect local priorities and create healthier, safer neighborhoods.
Across the watershed, we collaborate with cities, agencies, land trusts, and tribal partners to advance shared solutions. When communities and conservation move together, our impact flows farther.