Highway 20 access on the lower Yuba river.

[timmosazz]

Sure am glad I saw this I almost made the drive to fish here last week. Hoping it gets opened back up soon.

[yubaman]

After reading all of this, I would bet the ranch, and all cattle and horses, that someone of responsibility in Yuba County knows what the hell is going on here. I bet their hope is that they can soft shoe this past a few fly fishermen. There is just NO way that no one knows nothing about this gate. Man, I am dying to hear the real story here . . .

[amoeba]

After reading all of this, I would bet the ranch, and all cattle and horses, that someone of responsibility in Yuba County knows what the hell is going on here. I bet their hope is that they can soft shoe this past a few fly fishermen. There is just NO way that no one knows nothing about this gate. Man, I am dying to hear the real story here . . .

My best guess is the situation is completely FUBARd (someone just put up a gate). Last time this happened it took at least a few weeks to have the gate removed (via cutting torch from the looks of it, wish I was there with a camera); I do recall CDFW was involved then.

I just sent an inquiry to CDFW summarizing the matter, with a link to this thread, with a request for investigation/enforcement and disclosure.

Hopefully we will know something soon and, even more hopefully, it will be good.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Over my lifetime, access to fishing, hunting, and other outdoor adventures has been shrinking.



In the 1960s, we drove around Sacramento, during pheasant season.

We would stop and ask a farmer if we could hunt his fields and most said "Good luck, boys."



Back in the 1970s, the mouth of the Feather River, near Verona, was undeveloped and wide open to anyone.

We could drive off the levee road and park down near the water.

Old fly fishers from up and down the Valley wade fished there for Shad and Stripers.

Back then, the few boats that were anchored out in the Sacramento River were fishing for Stripers with sardines.

Some of my best memories were at the mouth of the Feather River, wading on the sand bar.



Back in the 1970s, Joe Shirshac would take me to the Trinity and Klamath Rivers.

We stayed in his old travel trailer, picked apples and berries, and cooked with a Crock Pot.

We watched the accesses go away on the Trinity River as they built homes along the river.

Back then we never saw anyone float the Trinity River, probably because access was so good.



Even here in Florida, access is being shut off, much because of developments and liabilities.

Just now we are seeing the nice Atlantic beach accesses, with bathrooms and parking, saying, "No Fishing" now.


This is why floating rivers is so popular today.

[jmac]

Hi Amoeba, and all others,

I am an attorney who has fished the Yuba extensively in the past. I am in Sacramento. If anyone who knows the information relating to this issue wants to work with me on the background, I am happy to file a lawsuit against whomever is responsible, do the discovery to find out the true facts, and then get the court to grant access if that is consistent with California law. Please respond with your phone number and I will call so we can arrange a meeting to discuss.

[amoeba]

Let's give it a few days. I'll follow up with CDFW. Go from there.

[mogaru]

Amoeba thanks for your time and determination. I just sent an email to Yuba city county public works inquiring about this situation. This is very strange and I don't believe for a moment someone on their own and without the county approval is going to close a public road. Maybe a local TV station should show a little light on this issue if Yuba county doesn't come up with an answer........soon.

[CharlieB]

Unrelated to river access - I was surprised to see flows bump up >4,000 CFS earlier this week without much rain. Smartsville got ~1/2" today and was dry Wednesday and Thursday... is this normal for this time of year? Or maybe they start releasing before the storm moves in?

[yubaman]

Mogaru, I agree completely. The Yuba County Sheriff’s for instance, suddenly see a gate across the road and don’t seem to know much? Hhhhmmmm . . .

Interestingly, I ran into a Parks Bar Rd. resident a couple of months back and chatted her up about the gate. Her information was that the road is private, which then caused me to show her the road on my landowner app, showing it as public. She proclaimed it as “incorrect”. Bull#@%*. She told me that all of the property owners on Parks Bar Road were fed up with trespassing on their properties and that Nordic Industries had installed the gate with approval of CHP, Yuba County Sherriff’s, Yuba County Supervisors, etc. etc., etc.

BTW, she also told me that the gate is usually closed but unlocked M-F, 8 am- 5 pm. Do not know if this is true?

How much of this is correct or incorrect, I have no idea. It was interesting to hear for sure. As I said, I am most interested in eventually hearing the factual version behind this.

[yubaman]

On another note, the resolution passed by the Yuba County Board of Supervisors to close Hammonton-Smartville Rd. on the south side on the Yuba River, should have expired effective 1-25-2025. The resolution, #2023-058, was passed on 7-25-23, with the maximum 18 month duration allowed by regulations and California State Vehicle Code!

Wonder if they are even aware of this ?????