In September 2024, the Nevada Irrigation District voted to withdraw its $1 billion Centennial Dam proposal after years of sustained opposition led by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL). The project would have inundated six miles of the Bear River, flooding homes, Tribal cultural sites, recreation areas, and critical wildlife habitat.
Since 2017, SYRCL mobilized thousands of Dam Watchdogs, coordinated community testimony, and submitted more than 3,000 letters challenging the project’s claims of public benefit. This victory protects the Bear River and affirms that community-led action can stop destructive water projects while advancing sustainable, climate-smart solutions.
