Category Archives: Water

Boating, Rafting, safety, Water

American River drowning victim recovered in Sacramento River

Authorities have identified a body recovered from the Sacramento River as that of a man who drowned recently in the American River.

The Sacramento Bee reports (http://bit.ly/1exVXWR ) the man, in his 20s, is believed to have drowned in the American River near Tiscornia Park on Wednesday. Sacramento Fire Department spokesman Chris Harvey says crews recovered the body Saturday after it was spotted in the Sacramento River. The victim’s name hadn’t been released as of Sunday.

According to fire officials, the victim had tried to swim across the river when he went underwater and didn’t resurface.

More at SanLuisObisbo.com >>>
Boating, Fish, Rafting, safety, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

California Drought Forces Fish Evacuation

State officials announced some fish hatcheries in California are being evacuated due to the drought.

Water temperatures at the American River hatchery were approaching dangerous levels for the rainbow trout, putting their lives in danger. So, for the second year in a row, they will have to be evacuated.

“We’re going to move about 330,000 steelhead and probably 500,000 trout,” said Jay Rowan.

But a smaller number will be able to stay, thanks to a high-tech indoor facility built with $700,000 in emergency drought funds. It uses purified water chilled by large cooling units.

“These fish will stay in this building for the next eight to nine months where they’ll grow out and then they will be taken out and planted on the east side of the Sierra,” Rowan said.

The hatchery problems will create some short-term benefits for the recreational fishing industry already hit hard by four years of drought.

More at CBSLocal.com >>>

Boating, Fish, Rafting, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Officials warn Folsom Lake could be 96% empty

Sacramento-area water officials warned Wednesday that Folsom Lake could be 96 percent empty by next January under a federal plan to increase water releases.

t’s just bad. It’s just bad,” said Tom Gohring, executive director of the Sacramento Region Water Forum, a coalition of water agencies.

Gohring spoke at a meeting of the State Water Resources Board about a proposal by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Reclamation officials have said they plan to begin releasing more fresh water from Folsom Lake and Lake Oroville in order to push back the saltwater that infiltrates the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during drought conditions.

“We are having to make a lot of difficult decisions,” said Erin Curtis, a Reclamation spokeswoman. “And releasing extra water from Folsom right now is one of those.”

A historically low snowpack has already left Folsom and several other California reservoirs at below-average levels.

More at KCRA.com >>>

Boating, Fish, safety, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Boats to be out of slips at Folsom Lake by Monday

The time for slip renters to pull their boats out of the water at Folsom Lake has come earlier than usual, due to the drought.

As of Sunday, the water level was at 413 feet, one foot away from the lowest point at which boats are permitted in the slips. After that level, it becomes dangerous to try to pull boats out.

Over the weekend, Jason Rutherford set out to enjoy the clear sky weather out on the water with his family for the last time this summer.

“We’re going to go out and come in this evening and pull it out this evening and wrap it up for the season in Folsom Lake,” Rutherford said.

And they were just getting started.

The Rutherfords got to use their slip for just one week before they had to take their boat back home.

“We’re two minutes from the lake so it’s great to come out on the evenings when you get off work,” Rutherford said. “It’s a bummer but we have a water issue. What are you going to do?”

On Sunday, the wind was perfect for sailing which made for a good father’s day for the Benjamins.

“It’s my husband’s special day and sailing is his passion,” Laura Benjamin said.

Even when they can’t use their slip they will continue to bring their boat to Folsom Lake, it just won’t be as convenient.

More at News10.net >>>

Bike Trail, Boating, safety, Water, Wildlife

Bear seen swimming in Folsom Lake

In this heat, everyone could use a nice cold swim to cool off, animals included.

An El Dorado Hills man was on Folsom Lake Saturday morning when he spotted an animal swimming in the water.

It wasn’t a dog. Or a coyote. Or a pig for that matter. Swimming casually in the cold lake water was a bear!

Tony Mygatt said he was sitting in his boat in a little cove and reading his book when he saw something swimming toward him. He grabbed his phone, snapped a photo and then began to film the bear.

More at News10.net >>>

Bike Trail, Boating, Rafting, safety, Water

Firefighters urge caution over dangerous river conditions

Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Randy Gross was about to lead News10 on a tour of the American River and it’s potential dangers when a call for an injury at a rope swing suddenly sent his four-man crew of Rescue Boat 65 into action.

“The rope swing’s a very popular spot. We go there probably every weekend for a call,” Gross said. “Just last Sunday, we went for a pretty severe fracture of the arm.”

In minutes, his low-draft rescue boat is skimming the water at nearly 40 miles an hour, as his engineer deftly dodges rafts, kayaks and swimmers.

“People are adventurous. They want to try things that aren’t the smartest thing to do,” Gross said. “And here’s a perfect example, 21-year-old male who had not had anything to drink.”

The man lost his grip on the rope swing, plunging onto the river bank and nearly slipping into the water before a friend was able to pull him back.

“If somebody wasn’t there and he would have slid off into the water, even though it seems pretty calm, he could be gone – they’re not going to find him,” Gross said.

The young man was clearly in shock, but resisted having a C-spine neck collar put on. Firefighters left it off, explaining that trying to force one on can do more harm.

“Not exactly knowing what’s going on, we provide whatever care we can,” Gross explained, pointing out the man does not seem to have head or next injuries. But, internal injuries are not yet ruled out.

“Very tough impact. And we don’t know what kind of impact on him for the next month or the rest of his life,” Gross explained.

In minutes, the young man is taken across the river to a waiting ambulance for a trip to the emergency room.

“This river is extremely dangerous,” Gross reflects. “Snags, slips, people hitting their head — it just takes your ankle getting twisted with the force of the water against it and, you know, you’re gone.”

More at News10.net >>>

Boating, Fish, Rafting, safety, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Regulator: Roseville, Folsom Could Run Out Of Water By September If Folsom Lake Releases Continue



A water regulator is warning Roseville and Folsom could run out of water in just a few months if officials continue to allow water releases from Folsom Lake.

Andrew Fecko with the Placer County Water Agency is concerned and frustrated after learning the Bureau of Reclamation has increased releases from Folsom Lake. He warns those increased releases won’t just expose ruins where water should be.

“If this lake behind me goes below 100,000 acre feet, in the September time frame, that’s a you-can’t-turn-on-your-tap moment, and that’s something we haven’t faced here before,” he said.

He says about half a million citizens use water from Folsom Lake, including the cities of Folsom and Roseville, as well as the San Juan Water District.

More at CBSLocal.com >>>

Boating, Fish, Rafting, safety, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Grave Concerns Over Folsom Lake for Water Officials

At its June 4 meeting, the Placer County Water Agency Board of Directors expressed grave concern over the projected drop in water levels at Folsom Lake.

Reacting to an order last week by the State Water Resource Control Board to conserve cold water supplies in the Shasta Reservoir system, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is releasing water from Folsom Reservoir at a rate that could drop lake levels within a few feet of the water supply outlet that serves the City of Roseville, City of Folsom, and San Juan Water District.

“If the current plan remains unchanged and we experience a dry fall, we could see half a million people in the region without water,” PCWA General Manager, Einar Maisch said. “This could, in effect, destroy the entire region’s economy.”

By holding cold water supplies at Shasta Reservoir now, it is expected cold water will be available for winter run Salmon in the Sacramento River. Releases at Folsom Lake increased from 1,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 2,000 cfs (approximately 4,000 acre-feet per day). Under current modeling, Folsom Lake levels could drop to approximately 118,000 acre-feet by the end of September. By comparison, in January 2014 Folsom reached its recent record low of 162,000 acre-feet, just before near record high February rains. 118,000 acre-feet would be 16 feet lower than the level reached in January 2014.

More at RocklinToday.com >>>