Rafter and wader beware – as of Sunday the water in the American River is running a full 12 degrees colder than it is during the dog days of summer.
“Right now the water is 53 degrees. Normally in the summertime, it’s about 65,” says Battalion Chief Chris Siler of Sacramento Metro Fire.
It’s not an exaggeration; miles from the actual point of snow melt, the American River is running cold and very fast – 3940 cubic feet per second – in Rancho Cordova.
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Sacramento has received a $5,000 cash grant from national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful Inc. as part of a nationwide effort sponsored by Waste Management that encourages local solutions to improving community environments.
Waste Management representatives applied for the grant earlier this year.
The “Think Green” grant will be used to buy and install a Waste Management solar-powered compactor at Sutter’s Landing Park.
“The grant reflects on the renewal mission of the park, converting a former landfill into a beautiful urban park along side the Central City portion of the American River,” says Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Cohn.
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Activists plan to stage two demonstrations on Saturday to highlight the potential for climate change to increase flood risk in the Sacramento region.
In Sacramento, participants are being asked to meet on the Guy West Bridge over the American River near Sacramento State University at 10 a.m. Saturday and wear blue-colored swim, snorkeling or dive gear. In Davis, organizers plan to converge with umbrellas on the levee overlooking the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, alongside Interstate 80, at 9 a.m.
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Police suspect carbon monoxide poisoning may have led to the deaths of two men and a dog found in a tent by the American River Monday morning.
According to sacramento police reports, the men, 44 and 38 years old, and their dog were found inside the tent just south of the Hwy. 160 bridge around 12:40 a.m.
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A woman had to be assisted out of the American River on Sunday after she became surrounded by the rising river.
According to Assistant Chief Scott Cockrum of the Sac Metro Fire Dept., the woman walked out to a small island in the river and when the river level rose, she decided she could not get back to the shore safely.
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Water levels along the American River are expected to rise Friday when the California Department of Water Resources increases flows out of Folsom Dam.
The outflow from Folsom Dam will increase to 7,000 cubic feet per second after 8 a.m. Friday, when dam operators open spillways.
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In honor of Earth Day, a huge clean-up effort took place on the American River.
The clean-up event was organized by the American River Parkway Foundation, which said every year more and more people are volunteering to clean up the environment.
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Help preserve the American River Parkway via text donation.
The program is being implemented in conjunction with the running of the Parkway Half Marathon on April 28 in Sacramento. So in lieu of running 13.1 miles to raise money for the American River Parkway Foundation, all it takes is a little thumb action to text a donation.
Sacfit (Sacramento Friends in Training) is spearheading the text donation campaign. To make a donation, type in “Parkway”, a space, “donation amount” then send to 27138.
After a 10-year effort, the American River Conservancy has completed the purchase of 757 acres of former ranch lands that straddle Salmon Falls Road in El Dorado County.
The lands are on the north side of the South Fork of the American River where it flows into Folsom Lake.
May is Bike Month in the Sacramento region, an invitation to try bicycling one day.
The annual effort to get people out of their cars and try pedaling is scheduled during May, in part, because it is one of the best months to bicycle in Sacramento — after the winter rains and before the summer heat.
April is also a pretty good month to bicylce. To that end, rest stops will be in place this month to promote biking in May.
Bicyclists are urged to look for “Energizer Stations” along key commuting routes in the Sacramento area. Most of the stations will be set up along the American River Bike Trail.
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