Category Archives: Bike Trail

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety

‘Rafting Gone Wild’ on American River less extreme this year

They came in hordes, ready for a wild time.

Several thousand rafters jammed the American River on Saturday for “Rafting Gone Wild,” tugging ice chests full of drinks and, in some cases, alcohol.

Showing up in skimpy bathing suits, the rowdy crowd of youngsters was unfazed by the massive police presence and a county ban on alcohol for river activities from Hazel Avenue to Watt Avenue.

By early evening, approximately 20 arrests had been made, said Sgt. Steve Dutra of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. The first arrest occurred just before 1 p.m. when a man jumped off the footbridge at Sunrise Park with a backpack full of alcohol, said R.L. Davis, Rancho Cordova’s assistant police chief.

There were also four medical transports by 6 p.m., all due to alcohol, said Capt. Bryan Thomson, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District spokesman.

Thomson said the criteria for medical evacuations were that people were “so intoxicated they can’t take care of themselves. They need to be evacuated.”

There were 39 medical transports last year, Thomson said.

More at MercedSunStar.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety

Thousands expected at Rafting Gone Wild

Officials said they expect more than 5,000 people to show up for the Rafting Gone Wild event on the American River.

For the first time, alcohol has been banned, and a huge police presence is expected to crack down on partygoers.

The non-licensed event begins at 11 a.m.

The alcohol ban was implemented to avoid fights and problems among rafters.
Officials said anyone who brings beer or other liquor will get a citation, be removed from the event and not allowed on the river or the shoreline.

Fire Department Capt. Bryan Thomson said dozens of drunken people need to be rescued from the water every year.

More at KCRA.com >>>
Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety

Sacramento County slaps drinking ban on Saturday’s ‘Rafting Gone Wild’

Sacramento County officials have decided to ban alcohol on a portion of the American River this Saturday to prevent any risk to the public from the upcoming “Rafting Gone Wild” event.

In 2011, a sandbar known as Gilligan’s Island, was a main gathering point for drunken revelers during Rafting Gone Wild. Last year, more than 3,000 people showed up at the event, with 23 people arrested.

Witnesses described deputies and rangers having difficulty keeping up with the large and chaotic crowd. Fights erupted on the riverbanks and rocks were thrown at rafters, they said.

County parks officials predict that the same unsafe circumstances could occur this Saturday if alcohol was allowed. To forestall any destruction of property or injury, County Director of Parks Jeff Leatherman issued the alcohol restriction today.

“This is based on our experience last year,” said Leatherman. “Last year, when people became more and more intoxicated, they began fighting with each other and fighting with law enforcement.”

Leatherman said that the decision to ban was based on viewing social media where the event is posted and speaking with law enforcement. It appeared that this year’s Rafting Gone Wild would also be alcohol-fueled.

The ban was issued for the American River from Hazel Avenue to Watt Avenue.

More at SacBee.com >>>

 

Bike Trail, safety

Metro Fire crew comes to aid of woman stuck on bluff above American River

A woman was rescued Thursday morning from a precarious perch 25 feet down the American River bluffs near Ravina Court in Fair Oaks.

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews responded to the call about 10:30 a.m.

A firefighter rappelled down the bluff, secured the woman in a harness, then continued down 80 feet to the American River’s edge, according to a Metro Fire news release.

The woman, whose name was not released, was placed in a Metro Fire boat and taken to the south side of the river for medical attention.

More at ModBee.com >>>

 

Bike Trail, Fish, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

State eyes east Sacramento sites for possible new railyard, maintenance facility

Sacramento has spent decades cleaning up and finding new uses for two historic city railyards. Now the state of California wants to build a new one in the urban core.

State transportation planners are looking at sites in east Sacramento and at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park along the American River, as places to build a major new railyard and maintenance facility for Amtrak trains.

Word of the state Department of Transportation’s plans spread in the last few days and surprised city officials and developers hoping to build hundreds of homes on the east Sacramento site.

“We just learned about it this week,” said Megan Norris, vice president of Riverview Capital Investments. The firm, headed by former state Treasurer Phil Angelides, has been promoting plans to build McKinley Village, a 328-home development, on the vacant swath of land by the Capital City Freeway. The property is commonly known as Centrage, after one of several failed projects there.

Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn, whose district contains both areas under consideration, said the revelation that Caltrans was looking at the sites to service Amtrak trains “came as news to me.”

He said any plans to put a railyard at Sutter’s Landing Park, built atop a former landfill, would be unacceptable. A map of the proposal suggests the railyard could impinge on city parkland. Even if it didn’t, Cohn said the city is planning to expand the park by acquiring acreage now in private hands. “We spent a lot of time and effort to convert an industrial facility into a park,” he said.

Caltrans spokesman Mark Dinger said the department’s plans are preliminary, with the two Sacramento locations being evaluated.

More at SacBee.com >>>

 

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety, Video

Law Enforcement Gears Up For Fourth of July On River

 

Sacramento County Park Rangers and the Sacramento County Marine Unit cruised the lower American River today to get ready for a crowded July Fourth weekend.

Flows are nearly triple what they were a month ago and they want to prepare for swifter currents and hidden hazards that might affect rescues.  They also need to warn rafters and swimmers about danger areas.

The biggest concern is still illegal alcohol use on the river, which is banned on the four-day holiday. Alcohol can contribute to violent fights.

“With deadly weapons, cobbles, sticks, whatever they can get their hands on,” said Ranger Randy Lewis.

But there are more families on the river since the holiday alcohol ban took effect several years ago. Jose Vasquez makes sure his son Gabriel uses on at Discovery Park where he knows about the history of drownings.

More at Fox40.com >>>
Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, Water

Holiday rate raises fees at parks this weekend

Entrance fees to Sacramento County regional parks will increase during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The fee increases will apply Thursday through Sunday, and are intended to help offset the higher costs to patrol and maintain the park system during holiday weekends, according to a county news release.

Vehicle entrance fees at all county parks will increase to $8 for single vehicles, and to $13 for oversized vehicles and vehicles with trailers. The increase will not affect annual pass holders.

In addition to the higher entrance fees, the county’s customary restriction on alcohol on the American River Parkway will be enforced Thursday through Sunday. Consumption of alcohol and possession of open containers will be prohibited on the shore and the river within the parkway between Watt and Hazel avenues. Violations of the restriction may result in a citation or arrest, and parks officials warn that the restriction will be strictly enforced.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, safety, Water

American River bluff search ended; no victims found

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District has concluded that it could find no evidence that a person was injured or killed where a hillside collapsed along the American River bluffs east of the Fair Oaks Bridge.

At noon, Sac Metro fire officials said that “based on neither of the two human remains dogs finding anything” the department’s responders “have terminated command and concluded search operations.”

The agency had sent about 20 firefighters back to check the area Sunday morning after a half dozen people reported seeing a shirtless man in black short who was hiking in the area Saturday evening disappear.

He was walking on the north side of the American River when the hillside collapsed.

Based on those reports, Sac Metro Fire reported deploying about 60 people, using search dogs, boats and helicopers on Saturday night.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Fish, safety, Water, Wildlife

Rules are tricky for spearfishing in American River

If you want to try spearfishing in the American River, don’t start by purchasing a spear gun, or investigating where to dive for the biggest bass. Instead, you may want to call your attorney first.

New regulations approved by the California Fish and Game Commission in 2012 opened the American River to spearfishing for striped bass for the first time, and only downstream of Harrington Way, near Sacramento’s William Pond Recreation Area. The new rule took effect May 1 this year.

Trouble is, the commission didn’t consult Sacramento County, which manages the American River Parkway as part of the county parks system.

It classifies spears and spear guns as weapons, which are banned in the American River Parkway just like guns, and bows and arrows.

In other words, if you drive to the parkway, pull your spear gun out of the trunk and walk over to the river, a county park ranger or a state game warden could cite you for a misdemeanor and confiscate your weapon.

More at SacBee.com >>>
Bike Trail, safety, Water

Multiple Fire Agencies Searching For Man Following Ground Slide

Rescue crews are searching the waters of the American River after the ground slid underneath a man walking along the river Saturday night.

Fire crews from Sacramento Metro Fire, the Sacramento Fire Department, and the Folsom Fire Department are searching the waters for the man. The slide is reported to be about 20 to 30 feet wide and 5 to 6 feet deep.

Six witnesses reportedly saw the man fall into the water as a result of that slide.

More at CBSLocal.com >>>