Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety, Video, Water, Wildlife

Hundreds Of Volunteers Join In 18th Annual American River Cleanup

 

Hundreds of volunteers were out scaling the American River on cleanup patrol.

The annual Great American River Cleanup in Rancho Cordova had thousands of volunteers on land and water Saturday.

“It’s mostly people dropping their stuff and not bothering to pick it up,” said a volunteer.

For 18 years in a row, the Great American River Cleanup covered a 23-mile span along the river in efforts to beautify the parkway.

“We have roughly 2,500 volunteers today,” said Stacy Springer, a volunteer manager.

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Bike Trail, Events, safety, Water, Wildlife

American River Parkway Foundation offers ways to give back

On Saturday, Sept. 15, about 2,500 volunteers are expected to take part in the American River Parkway Foundation’s annual Great American River Clean Up.

According to Stacy Springer, volunteer manager for the American River Parkway Foundation, which is based in Carmichael, these volunteers will spend three hours that morning cleaning up 20 site locations along the American River of trash and other debris. “And that does not even include the huge kayak and dive teams that go out and address the shoreline and deeper water channels,” she said.

Springer said it’s easy to volunteer for the Great American River Clean Up – volunteers just need to register on the Foundation’s website, www.arpf.org, and then show up on the day of the clean-up wearing closed-toe shoes and long pants, plus sunblock and hat if the day is sunny and warm.

More at ValComNews.com >>>

Bike Trail, safety

Coroner’s Office: Body found near American River was Linnea Lomax

The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office confirmed Friday night that the body of a woman found Friday morning near the American River was Linnea Lomax, who had been missing for 10 weeks.

The cause and manner of death are under investigation, but “foul play does not appear to be a factor at this point of the investigation,” according to a Coroner’s Office news release.

Lomax, 19, who grew up in Placerville, had been missing since June 26, when she left out-patient counseling at a clinic not far from where the body was found along the American River near Glenn Hall Park.

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Bike Trail, safety

Update: Officials investigating whether body is that of missing UC Davis woman

A volunteer search party looking for a missing UC Davis student found a body along the American River and notified police this morning, sparking an investigation into whether the body is that of Linnea Lomax.

Sacramento police told The Bee that the group of searchers found the body at 10:18 a.m. along the river in the vicinity of Glenn Hall Park in the River Park neighborhood near Sacramento State — not far from where Lomax walked away from a mental health appointment more than two months ago.

Police spokesman Doug Morse said at a press conference shortly after noon that the body is that of a woman and shows signs of decomposition. Authorities say the age of the woman is not yet clear and that they do not know how the woman died.

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Bike Trail, safety

Police: Robber forced teen to undress before shooting

A teenager was forced at gunpoint to get naked moments before a robber shot him near the American River bike trail on Wednesday, said a Sacramento police spokesman.

The victim was shot in the lower body Wednesday afternoon during a robbery around 3 p.m.

“The suspect made the victim get undressed during the robbery,” said Doug Morse, a Sacramento police spokesman.

Morse said police are still not releasing the identity of the suspect for investigative reasons.

Morse added that investigators are still working to determine why the shooter forced the victim to undress.

More at KCRA.com >>>

Fish, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Fishermen Frustrated As Sea Lions Steal Fish At Discovery Park

There’s a problem lurking right where the American and Sacramento rivers meet, a problem the fishermen would like to hook.

Something is lurking in the waters near Discovery Park.

“They look like they’re hungry,” said Daniel Cabera.

You may notice a ripple, an awkward change of current in an otherwise still spot.

So what has one woman so scared?

“I’m not going in that water ever again, they’re gonna eat me,” said Daniela Blackwell.

It’s highly unlikely they want Blackwell for a snack. It’s the slippery swimmers splashing under the water that sea lions are after.

“They snag up our lines, steal our fish, and get caught in cross currents,” said Blackwell.

That is where the problem lies.

Fishermen are casting line after line, sweating in the sun, teased by tugs, hoping for that prized pull, only to have a sea lion swoop right in and snag their salmon.

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Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Alcohol Ban Keeps American River Calm Over Holiday Weekend

Hundreds headed to local waterways on this Labor Day holiday, but it was a lot quieter than many weekends. River patrol crews say the alcohol ban has limited crowds and trouble.

“We just want to float down the river,” rafter Angie Rincon said Monday.

And this Labor Day, she didn’t have to fight much raft traffic.

“It’s just a nice, mellow weekend for families to enjoy the river,” said Dave Hill with American River Raft Rentals.

American River Raft Rentals had 80 rafts on the river Monday. The company is capable of renting out hundreds.

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Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Alcohol prohibited on American River, parkway over Labor Day weekend

Sacramento County Regional Parks rangers are gearing up for the last of the summer holiday weekends.

Folks planning to celebrate Labor Day along the American River and adjoining parkway are reminded that an alcohol ban will be in effect Saturday through Monday between Hazel and Watt avenues. John Havicon, supervising ranger, said rangers will be checking for alcohol at various access points.

The Labor Day weekend crowds along the river and parkway typically are lighter than those during the Fourth of July and Memorial Day holidays, he said.

“Labor Day is like a busy Saturday,” Havicon said, noting that school has started for most youngsters and families are involved in other activities this time of year.

River flows are scheduled to drop to 2,000 cubic feet per second beginning Friday, which means more rocks will be exposed.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Fish, Rafting, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

More gravel to be dumped into American River

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to dump approximately 14,000 tons of gravel into the lower American River to help improve spawning grounds for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon.

To be targeted are existing spawning habitat that consists of large rocks and fine sediment that reduces the ability for fish to construct nests and may reduce the number of eggs surviving and emerging as juvenile fish.

The first load of gravel is scheduled to be deposited in the lower American River on Monday, Sept. 10. All work is expected to be completed by Friday, Sept. 30. All work will be within the confines of the Sailor Bar Recreation Area, near Hazel Avenue and Winding Way in Fair Oaks.

More at CentralValleyBusinessTimes.com >>>

Events, Rafting, safety

No Alcohol Ban Planned For American River’s Rage on the River Party

Sacramento County Parks Director Jeff Leatherman says the “Rage on the River” participants will be allowed to drink on the river, “It’s been going on for a handful of years.  There was an event similar to this back in June that we didn’t have any significant problems associated with the event down in the lower part of the river near Discovery Park.  So, we don’t anticipate any problems this time.”

Rage on the River is not be confused with the “Rafting Gone Wild” event that took place farther up the river in July.  That ended with several brawls and dozens of people arrested or injured.

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