Castle and Round Valley Meadows Restoration Project

On August 7, 2026, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife granted a Restoration Management Permit to the South Yuba River Citizens League, represented by Parker Eversoll, for the Castle and Round Valley Meadows Restoration Project. The project employs process-based restoration techniques to address sediment accumulation, enhance groundwater recharge, diversify habitat structure, and bolster meadow biodiversity and climate resilience, with specific focus on improving conditions for the endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog. Methods include reducing stream velocity, expanding ponding areas, and stabilizing hydrologic and thermal patterns to foster a self-sustaining ecosystem requiring minimal human management over the next 25 to 50 years. An adaptive management framework is integrated to ensure ongoing alignment with ecological goals and responsive adjustments as conditions evolve. The project has been formally designated as a Qualifying Restoration Project under section 1671(d)(1) of the Fish and Game Code, affirming its potential to deliver significant, cumulative benefits to native species, vegetation, and their habitats. Permitted under Fish and Game Code section 1670, the initiative is situated in California and is overseen by CDFW’s Region 2 – Northern Central office in Rancho Cordova. Primary point of contact for the state is Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor Briana Seapy, while Parker Eversoll serves as the project’s Lead Science Manager on behalf of the applicant. The project’s public tracking link is accessible through the CEQA Net portal, and the permit was officially posted on August 10, 2026.