We’ve been having very hot weather over the last two weeks. The days have been in the 100°+ temperature range, with the nights in the 70’s! Most afternoons, I head to the river to cool off, never knowing what I might find there! I feel SO lucky to have the North Yuba River five minutes from our home!

Luckily a few days were overcast during the recent heat spell, and we got a reprieve from the heat! One morning there was an astounding show of light and clouds that was incredibly beautiful! This morning it was 50° on our back porch and the temperature at noon was 89°! Yay!!! Hopefully we’ll stay a little cooler than the last couple of weeks, during the upcoming hot weather!

The North Yuba River

The headwaters of the North Yuba River are up by Yuba Pass. It travels approximately 20+ miles downhill before it reaches our neighborhood. In its descent from the pass, the river travels over river rocks, wraps around boulders, and falls into bedrock pools that are often lined with the giant leaves of Indian Rhubarb plants. In most areas willows and alders also line the river banks. The river water is a beautiful clear glass-green sometimes shallow and sometimes quite deep, that supports a variety of wildlife. In the summer, waterfowl, songbirds, herons, kingfishers, and raptors can be seen in the river corridor. Aquatic insects, reptiles, amphibians, and trout live here year round. If you are lucky you might also see a Northern River Otter or American Mink in the river, or a Black Bear or Deer crossing it!

Wikipedia states: “The North Yuba River (also called the North Fork Yuba River) is the main tributary of the Yuba River in northern California in the United States. The river is about 61 miles (98 km) long and drains from the Sierra Nevada westwards towards the foothills between the mountains and the Sacramento Valley.

It rises on the Sierra Crest about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Sierraville. The river flows west through meadows, then south into a gorge, turning west again, followed by California State Route 49. The river’s four major tributaries, the Downie River, Goodyears Creek, Canyon Creek and Slate Creek, enter from the right before the river abruptly turns south at the New Bullards Bar Reservoir, formed by the New Bullards Bar Dam. The dam is situated right above the river’s mouth; just after the North Yuba leaves the dam it empties into the Middle Yuba River and forms the Yuba River.”

Pictured above are an adult Stonefly (top) and Stonefly nymph exoskeletons (bottom). Stonefly nymphs will live underwater for 1 to 4 years, depending on the species. They prefer running rivers and streams, not lakes and ponds. They feed on algae, detritus, and plant materials under water. When their nymphal stages end, the nymphs will crawl out of the water onto rocks, their exoskeletons will dry out and crack open, the adult will pull itself out of the exoskeleton, pump up its wings, dry out, and fly away! As adults they feed on nectar, as well as algae and lichens. The adults usually live for about a month, just long enough to mate and lay eggs!

Your questions and comments are appreciated. Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!