Friends of the River

Non-profit OrganizationsCalifornia, United States11-50 Employees

Friends of the River is California's only statewide river conservation non-profit, dedicated to protecting and restoring rivers, streams, and watersheds across the state. It is nationally recognized as an authority on the adverse impacts of dams on rivers and ecosystems. Founded in 1973 during the Stanislaus River campaign against New Melones Dam, the organization evolved into California's statewide river conservation coalition and is based in Sacramento.

The group works to influence public policy and mobilize citizen action to advance sustainable water management and has led campaigns for permanent protections of several California rivers and streams, including the Kings, Kern, Merced, Tuolumne, upper Klamath, Sespe Creek, and Cache Creek. In March 2026, Friends of the River, together with other environmental NGOs, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the Eastern District of California over the Central Valley Project, illustrating its active engagement in legal avenues to protect rivers.

Sign up for free to view info

Email Format Employee directory