South Yuba River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Yuba River
View of South Yuba from N Bloomfield Road Nevada City, CA
Other name(s)	South Fork
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Upper Yuba Watershed
Physical characteristics
Main source	Lake Angela Tahoe National Forest
River mouth	Englebright Lake Yuba River
Length	65 mi (105 km), east-west
Basin features
Basin size	340 sq mi (880 km2)
Namesakes: South Yuba River State Park South Yuba River Citizens League

High water in the South Yuba River at the old CA-49 bridge, 8 January 2017

The 65.0-mile-long (104.6 km) South Yuba River is a left-entering tributary of the Yuba River originating in the northern Sierra Nevada at Lake Angela in Nevada County about three quarters of a mile north of Donner Pass, about three miles east of the town of Soda Springs. After passing through Lake Van Norden with Upper Castle Creek (longer than the Lake Angela stem) entering from the right, it gathers numerous snow-fed tributaries running west through a marshy, lake-filled valley, criss-crossing Interstate 80. The river briefly enters Placer County, then flows into Lake Spaulding, then plunges westward into a steep-sided valley. Canyon Creek enters from the right, then Poorman Creek also from the right near the town of Washington. The river continues west into the foothills, crossing under State Route 49. Its mouth is on the east shore of upper Englebright Lake, formed by a dam across the Yuba River.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has issued a safe eating advisory for any fish caught in South Yuba River due to elevated levels of mercury and PCBs.

Recreation

The river begins within the Tahoe National Forest. Parks along or near the South Yuba River include:

• Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
• South Yuba River State Park

Course