Bike Trail, safety

Sewer pipe used as bridge on Carmichael trail to be blocked

A popular nature trail along Arcade Creek in Carmichael is about to become a little more difficult to access.

For decades, nature lovers and hikers on the Jo Smith Nature Trail have crossed over a sewer pipe that spans Arcade Creek near American River College.

Students who live nearby also use the crossing to get to the college.

“I just want to see it left open,” neighbor and avid hiker Siobhan Hutton said. “It’s beautiful, many people enjoy it, many people use it to go to school, I would just like to see it left open. I haven’t seen it harm anybody.”

When the pipe was installed in the 1960’s, railings were attached for safety reasons. The railings have been gone for years.

The Sacramento Area Sewer District owns the pipe and has decided the crossing is dangerous and will fence it off next month.

More at News10.net >>>

safety, Water

Volunteers needed to educate public about American River, Folsom Dam

Volunteers are needed to help educate the public about the American River watershed and Folsom Dam.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, seeks volunteers to work at the American River Water Education Center, an exhibit facility and drought-tolerant garden located near the dam in Folsom.

The center at 7785 Folsom-Auburn Road exists to increase public knowledge about the American River watershed, the water cycle, conservation, water management, and the history and operation of Folsom Dam. It is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to greet visitors, answer questions, guide school groups, and help maintain the garden. An interview and background investigation are required. An orientation is planned in August for new volunteers, followed by 60 days of on-the-job training.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

Dumped stolen car discovered downstream of Ancil Hoffman Park

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A stolen car apparently was recently driven into the American River near Ancil Hoffman Park earlier this month, officials reported.

Once it was in the water, park rangers think it was swept downstream about a mile by abnormally high summer river flows.

Sacramento County Park Ranger John Havicon said the car was stolen from an owner in Gold River. The vehicle was then apparently driven into the river at the Rossmoor Bar boat ramp.

It floated downstream when the river was roaring to a point where Rancho Cordova is on one side of the river and Ancil Hoffman Park on the other. Havicon said the car was spotted in the river around July 1.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Fire, safety

Prescribed burn below Foresthill Bridge canceled due to weekend fire activity

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A prescribed burn scheduled for today under the Foresthill Bridge in Placer County was canceled because of wildland fires over the weekend.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the second time canceled the controlled burn planned for 55 acres on either side of the middle fork of the American River, about one mile east of Auburn. The burn, designed to reduce hazardous fuel below the bridge, was canceled June 28 because of unfavorable weather conditions. Today’s project was canceled because Cal Fire resources were not available.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Rafting, safety

No major injuries on Sacramento rivers during holiday weekend

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Despite the most dangerous water conditions in recent years, Sacramento-area public safety officials reported no major injuries or deaths on local waterways over the July Fourth weekend.

“We had a real good weekend,” said Scott Cockrum, assistant chief with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

He attributed the relative lack of problems to several factors, including the holiday alcohol ban for people enjoying themselves in and along the river, and requirements that children younger than 13 years old wear life vests in or near the water.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Video, Water

VIDEO: Alcohol ban = fewer rescues on American River

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A series of dramatic river rescues about 10 days ago may have set the tone for the 4th of July holiday weekend.  Some avoided rivers like the American because of the dangers.  But an alcohol ban approved by the State Legislature is getting most of the credit for taking the sizzle out of the 4th..

The loud sounds of a helicopter could be heard moving up and down the American River on Monday.  But it’s what you couldn’t see or hear that made the most striking difference: there was less alcohol on the river.  25-year-old Elizabeth Depelteau was struck by the change.  ”They would get really wasted and everybody would fight and mud wrestle and do all those kinds of things.  It was really scary.”

But there are tradeoffs. Patrol boats from the Sacramento Metro Fire Department gave FOX40’s John Lobertini a front row seat to the cold, fast moving water.  Dam releases from Folsom Lake have slowed, but the river is still moving at double its normal speed.  It’s cold too, a dangerous 52 degrees says Assistant Fire Chief Scott Cockrum.  ”Again, it’s a 50 degree temperature difference between the outside ambient temperature and the water.  It just shocks your body and takes your breath away from you.”

More at fox40.com >>>

Rafting, safety

Rafters arrested for bringing booze on the American River

It’s the law in Sacramento County: no alcohol permitted on the American River. And this holiday, police are checking rafters headed out for a float to be certain they aren’t carrying any liquor with them.

Getting caught with on the river with, say, a hefty-bag full of booze is one sure way to end your long weekend early. That’s what happened in one arrest Sunday. Police confiscated cans of Coors Light, Jagermeister, vodka… and Lord knows what was in the Oceanspray bottle.

Most rafters know better.

More at fox40.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

2011 most dangerous year for river rescues

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Double trouble on Northern California waterways.  The water is fast, it’s extremely cold and there aren’t enough cops to police all the potential problems.  And, the dangers may be far worse than most people realize.

According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways more people have been killed in swift water river accidents in the first 6 months of 2011 than any other period on record.

More at fox40.com >>>

Rafting, safety

Rangers checking boats, rafts, for alcohol

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Park rangers began on Saturday a three-day stretch of checking boats and coolers for alcohol as people arrive at the Sunrise Bridge access point to the American River in Rancho Cordova.

They discovered bottles of beer with at least one man who claimed on Saturday afternoon not to be carrying alcohol as he made his way to the water. He had to dispose of the beer before he could continue. In some instances, rangers have cited people who appear to be hiding alcohol on their way onto the water.

On the American River, the alcohol ban is in place between Hazel Avenue and Watt Avenue.

More at KCRA.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

Flow reduced on American River

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People trying to stay cool in the American River this weekend will enjoy a less treacherous flow of water, after weeks of extremely rapid flow created by fast-melting Sierra snow that accumulated during an unusually long winter.

On Saturday, the Bureau of Reclamation reduced water releases from the Nimbus Dam from 11,000 cubic feet per second to 6,000 for the holiday weekend. The amount will be increased on Monday evening, said Randy Lewis, a park ranger in Rancho Cordova who was talking to boaters at the Sunrise Bridge access point to the river.

More at KCRA.com >>>