Two men drowned in the American River in separate incidents over the weekend, officials said.
An unidentified 25-year-old man drowned Sunday while swimming near the Howe Avenue boat ramp, Sacramento fire officials said. He began struggling and slipped under the water while swimming in the river with another man and a minor, who were rescued from a nearby island, officials said.
On Saturday, a 23-year-old Rancho Cordova man apparently drowned while swimming in the American River near Lake Natoma, officials said.
A half century ago Placer County Water Agency leaders finalized documents that led to construction of the Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project. Their foresight ensured development of a new water supply for Placer County. The construction was funded through a revenue bond with debt service, operations and maintenance costs funded by the sale of electricity generated by the Project.
The public is invited to attend on Thursday (May 2) at 4 p.m., a special PCWA Board meeting to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the construction of the Agency’s Project.
A City of Sacramento public opinion survey about possible bridge construction has been completed. The Department of Transportation says more than three-quarters of respondents ranked a new crossing over the American River between Interstate 5 and State Route 160 as important or very important. Six out of ten people agreed a bridge should have vehicle, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian access.
“Unscientific” survey shows 78% think a new bridge connecting Sacramento with Natomas is a good idea.
Flows on the American River through Sacramento will increase by 50 percent tonight to ensure enough flood-control capacity in Folsom Lake.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Folsom and Nimbus dams, will boost flows from 4,000 cubic feet per second to 6,000 cfs between 6 and 8 p.m.
The increase is enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool every 45 seconds and is expected to raise water levels in the American River by one foot. This is not enough to cause flooding problems. But people traveling or recreating along the river are advised to use caution near the water and watch for rising water levels and faster flows.
The American River Parkway bike and recreation trail got some needed sprucing up last weekend as 2,000-plus volunteers hit the trail, collecting more than 14,000 pounds of trash during the American River Parkway Foundation’s annual cleanup event.
“For 2,000 people to spend their Saturday morning helping restore probably the best civic amenity in Sacramento, that says a lot about how important this parkway is to the community,” foundation executive director Dianna Poggetto said.
The cleanup also shows that plenty of people use the parkway as a dumping ground. Materials collected included used diapers, cans and bottles, cigarette butts, rusted bicycles, clothing and fishing lines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
