Category Archives: Rafting

Bike Trail, Fire, Rafting, safety, Water

Proposed fire cuts could cut out rescue teams

Sacramento Fire Department’s special operations could be cut out of the 2012-2013 fiscal city budget; affecting several programs whose focus is rescue and public protection.

The water boat rescue program; heavy and confined space rescue; high angle and low angle; and trench rescue teams would be completely eliminated from the department. Three out of four hazmat teams would also disappear.

The SFD’s union said fire fighters respond to almost 80,000 calls each year. Only 500 of those calls are for hazmat, but fire fighters said those are the critical calls.

“You’re talking about vapor releases and liquid toxins that can kill on impact,” said Todd Filburn of Fire Fighters Local 522.

On the American River, families were enjoying the shallow end of the water, but were cautious of the swift and cold currents.

“You have to do your part to be safe, because the time rescuers can get to you, it’s too late,” said father Barry Cookson, who was tying inner tubes together and anchoring the line to a cement brick.

“That way the kids just float in a circle and you don’t lose anyone, because you will lose someone in the river.”

More at News10.net >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

Newly opened river stretch blends natural, manmade thrills

The historic Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge serves as a reminder of the rich history of the Auburn area shortly after the rafts hit the water just past the confluence of the North fork and the Middle fork of the American River.

After a few tame rapids and miles of beautiful scenery, the Auburn Dam site and the man-made rapids alongside the Placer County Water Agency pump house are a nod to what those in the rafting business hope is a bright future for the area.

Eight whitewater rafting companies were granted permits to a new route on the Middle Fork in mid-May and commercial trips will likely take place with regularity throughout the summer months.

Norm Schoenhoff has owned Whitewater Excitement since its inception in 1979. The majority of the company’s business takes place on the South Fork of the American River, starting in Lotus. But he believes the quick trip down the Middle Fork could be a great option for folks looking for a relaxing float on weeknights or a quick weekend trip.

“There are really only a few rapids – nothing over Class II, maybe Class III,” Schoenhoff said. “It would be a good family trip or a good trip for kids.”

Guides have the option of starting near the Highway 49 Bridge, or heading up the Quarry Trail via van and putting in on the Middle Fork. The water moves along at a leisurely pace, allowing boaters to take in the remarkable landscape and wildlife. The peaceful river winds through the steep canyon just below Auburn and gives even longtime Auburn residents a unique perspective of the area.

More at AuburnJournal.com >>>

Bike Trail, Rafting, safety, Wildlife

Rattlesnake season puts pets at risk in Sacramento area

Less than a day after a baby rattlesnake struck him, Bowser – a mixed Labrador and heeler puppy – pranced to his car, waited for his swelling to go down and relished tummy rubs from his owner, Nick Delgado.

Bowser is one of the luckier animals bitten by rattlesnakes in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Amador counties recently. Some didn’t survive their bites.

Delgado and Jessica Cobian said they were walking Tuesday near the American River in Rancho Cordova when Bowser, who was on a leash in front of them, lunged forward and sniffed the ground. When the nearly 1-year-old dog perked his head up, a 10-inch-long baby rattlesnake bit his snout.

More at ModBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Thousands of families pack river for Memorial Day weekend

Thousands of people are expected to pack area rivers this Memorial Day weekend.

Rescue crews will be out at Discovery Park urging rafters and swimmers to wear life jackets in the river.

Drowning Accident Rescue Team President Bob Erickson said he is 90 percent sure his team will be called out to perform a rescue.

Park rangers will be cracking down on those breaking the booze ban.

They will issue citations if necessary.

Sacramento Metro fire officials said 60 percent of the drownings they respond to every year are alcohol-related.

Pool safety is also a big concern, especially for children.

More at KCRA.com >>>
Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Life jacket trade-in planned at area Kohl’s stores in Sacramento region

In advance of the Memorial Day weekend and the start of the summer recreation season, a life jacket trade-in will be held today at Kohl’s store locations in the Sacramento region.

The event, now in its 13th year, is sponsored by the California Department of Boating and Waterways, Radio Disney and UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

The life jacket trade-in gives parents the opportunity to have life jackets inspected by professionals. Life jackets that have been outgrown or are no longer serviceable will be exchanged for new, properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets while supplies last.

For those who don’t own life jackets, the American River Parkway Foundation announced that it will purchase and supply life vests for “Kids Don’t Float,” a program that lends life vests to children during the summer at seven access points along the American River.

More at ModBee.com >>>
Rafting, safety, Water, Wildlife

Wet April boosts State Water Project deliveries

The State Water Project should be able to deliver 65 percent of requested water this year, the Department of Water Resources says. This is up from the 60 percent delivery estimate – or allocation – announced on April 16.

Originally, DWR projected in November that it would be able to supply 60 percent of the slightly more than 4 million acre-feet of SWP water requested, but a dry December, January and February dropped that figure to 50 percent.

A wet March and above-average reservoir storage boosted the allocation back up to 60 percent in April, and Wednesday’s increase to 65 percent is due to April’s wetter-than-usual weather.

A 65 percent allocation is not unusually low.

Wet conditions last year allowed the SWP to deliver 80 percent of the slightly more than 4 million acre-feet requested by the 29 agencies that supply more than 25 million Californians and nearly a million acres of irrigated farmland. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons of water, enough to cover one acre to a depth of one foot. The final allocation was 50 percent in 2010, 40 percent in 2009, 35 percent in 2008, and 60 percent in 2007. The last 100 percent allocation – difficult to achieve even in wet years due to pumping restrictions to protect threatened and endangered fish – was in 2006.

April rainfall was 167 percent of normal in the mountainous area between the American River and Lake Shasta that produces much of California’s water supply. The April rainfall total in the San Joaquin River basin was 137 percent of average.

More at CentralValleyBusinessTimes.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Water, Wildlife

Modest flows bode well for summer river rafting season

California must have some of the hardest-working water in the world. Our mountains scrape abundant snowfall out of the sky to offer a playground for skiers and snowboarders.

Then, as snow melts in spring, runoff gushes down river canyons and provides thrills to rafters and kayakers.

Ultimately, of course, the stuff offers habitat for fish (and anglers), generates hydro power, gives us working showers, irrigates farms and provides so many other blessings into the bargain.

Each whitewater season has its own profile. For 2012, late spring and summer river-running looks to be benign, filled with sun and fun, reasonably safe, and of surprisingly long duration. Especially if you compare 2012 with last year, when a double- deep snowpack created an embarrassment of riches. Too many rivers ran too cold and too high for too long. It was mid-summer before recreational users could really enjoy their sports. In contrast, this year the watchword is: Get out there right now, and begin enjoying yourself.

“Last season, all our whitewater outfitters had a pretty slow start,” said Dan Crandall, who runs Current Adventures kayak school and The River Store on the popular south fork of the American River at Coloma. “But this year, many rivers that have little or no dam control, like the Carson, are sweet and runnable right now. And other drainages that are metered with dams and reservoirs, such as the south fork and the Trinity, have enough water to provide good recreation all summer long.”

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Rafting, safety

Sacramento County Parks To Use Volunteer Rangers

Sacramento County will use volunteer park rangers in an effort to put more law enforcement officers on patrol.

The auxiliary ranger program will bolster a force that has been reduced from 25 to 14 rangers. Currently, people on the popular American River Parkway and Dry Creek Parkway are hard pressed to seen a ranger on duty.

“It’s not like it used to be. Three or four years ago you’d see a lot more of them out here,” said cyclist Rod Stoy.

“I have a real issue with that,” said hiker Andrew Mortimer, of the budget cuts that reduced the number of Park Rangers in the county. He’s upset because he sees people on the parkway that make people feel unsafe.

“The fact that this is built for people to enjoy recreational activities and they don’t even feel safe to be out,” said Mortimer.

The county is currently doing extensive background checks for the first six auxiliary rangers who must have police academy training under their belt. They will also get the training that full time paid rangers undergo. Rangers say with the current staffing, they spend the bulk of their time responding to calls rather than doing preventive and proactive policing on the parkway.

More at Fox40.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

Heart attack may have killed rafter on North Fork American River run

A Rohnert Park man has died while whitewater rafting on the North Fork of the American River near Colfax and authorities are looking into the possibility of a fatal heart attack.

The man was identified by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office as Stan Decker, 59, of Rohnert Park. Decker died Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The Associated Press initially reported that Decker drowned after apparently trying to help two rafters who were struggling with some fast-moving rapids.

But State Parks Supervising Ranger Scott Liske of the Auburn State Recreation Area said Monday that an ashen-faced Decker was reported by onlookers to have collapsed while standing in ankle-deep water after a particularly frenetic ride both in and out of the churning whitewater.

Decker was part of a commercial rafting trip by Auburn’s Whitewater Excitement outfitters that left from the Mineral Bar put-in near the Iowa Hill Bridge at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Liske said.

At least two boats and a kayaking outrider set out and the boat Decker was in ended up pitching four occupants out at Slaughter’s Sluice, about half a mile downstream, Liske said.

Decker was one of the rafters who wemt in after the craft hit something in the water. He and another occupant were able to get back into the inflatable rubber raft and try to help pull the other two – a man and a woman – back in, Liske said.

More at AuburnJournal.com >>>