Category Archives: Water

Rafting, safety, Water

Woman swept downstream at confluence drowns

A woman was caught in the American Rivercurrent and drowned Friday between the Highway 49 and Mountain Quarries Railroad bridges.

The woman was observed by a firefighter attempting to cross the American River at the confluence by foot shortly after 11 a.m. But the crossing went tragically wrong as he watched her slip and struggle in the fast-moving river.

A fire crew had been dispatched on a wildland fire reported in the confluence area and the firefighter could see from a vantage point above the river on Highway 49 as the woman and two other people made their way into the river upstream from the Highway 49 bridge, Auburn State Recreation Area Superintendent Mike Schneider said.

The stretch of river is just past where the middle and north forks of the river meet in the AmericanRiver canyon below Auburn, increasing the force of the current.

“They were in shallow water and trying to cross the river,” Schneider said.

While the woman’s death was still under investigation, indications were that she slipped on rocks and was carried downstream by the current, he said.

More at AuburnJournal.com >>>

Fire, safety, Water, Wildlife

Kyburz fire fully contained at 75 acres

The Kyburz fire was reported fully contained Wednesday after burning through 75 acres of timber and steep canyon areas off Highway 50 in El Dorado County.

The fire was reported around 2 p.m. July 23 in the south fork of the American River canyon, west of the community of Kyburz. It burned east of Whitehall on both sides of Highway 50, prompting evacuations and closure of Highway 50. One lane of the highway reopened Friday evening. All lanes were open on Saturday.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Boating, Rafting, safety, Water

Folsom and EDH Fire Stations offer free life jacket rentals

After the drowning of a 23-year-old man last week in the Lake Natoma, local first responders are reminding people to stay safe and act responsibly in local waterways.

The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are warning water enthusiasts not to become complacent because of the drought, and to take serious precautions when in or near water this summer.

DBW officials said water is still flowing and even low reservoirs and lakes still have enough water for recreation. Previously deep hazards may be closer to the surface and can create treacherous conditions for all recreationists including waders, swimmers, paddlers, boaters, anglers and even hikers cooling off at the water’s edge.

“We ask those enjoying the outdoors to be careful near mountain streams, rivers and reservoirs. Water flows can fluctuate so always be prepared for a change in conditions,” said Randy Livingston, vice president of Power Generation for PG&E.

Since conditions change quickly in open water and even the best swimmers can misjudge the water and their skills when boating or swimming, DBW officials said wearing a properly-fitted life jacket can help keep people safe.

El Dorado Hills Fire Department Division Chief/Fire Marshal Michael Lilienthal, said the department received a grant from the Life Jacket Loaner Program sponsored by the U.S. and California Boats and Waterways Association which loans flotation devices to local boaters.

“The process is simple, (people need to) provide a California driver’s license and the approximate weight of the person needing the life jacket and complete a form,” Lilienthal said. “Jackets can be borrowed for up to three days. While this is the peak season for usage, the program is available year round.”

A life jacket can also provide some thermal protection against the onset of hypothermia and keep a person afloat until someone else can rescue him or her.

More at FolsomTelegraph.com >>>

 

Boating, Rafting, safety, Water

Drowning victim’s body found in Lake Natoma

State park workers recovered the body Tuesday morning of a 23-year-old man who drowned last week at Lake Natoma after jumping into the water with friends, officials said.

The man was identified as Paul Liu of Sacramento, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.

The workers recovered the body at 9 a.m. between the launch ramp and swim beach at Negro Bar, said Richard Preston, superintendent for the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.

On Thursday, California State Parks workers received a report at about 4 p.m. that four people had jumped from rocks intending to swim to a partially submerged rock in the middle of the lake, between Rainbow Bridge and Lake Natoma Crossing, Preston said. Liu went underwater, and his friends unsuccessfully tried to rescue him.

Two of Liu’s friends were rescued by kayakers, and one made it to shore on his own.

Hours after park workers recovered Liu’s body, rescue crews pulled another body out of the American River downstream near Sutter’s Landing in midtown Sacramento.

That man appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, said Sacramento Fire Department spokesman Chris Harvey. He said identifying the man will be difficult because the body had been in the water for several days.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Boating, Rafting, safety, Water

Safety changes coming after Discovery Park-area drownings

Sacramento County officials said Monday they are planning changes at Tiscornia Beach after four people died off its shoreline so far in July.

County Supervisor Phil Serna said he’s asked the county parks department to install signs down by the water’s edge as early as next weekend.

“It’s going to be some very blunt language, strong language, that really attempts to impress upon folks that visit our parkways about the risk associated with entering the waterway,” Serna said.

For Joe Thomas, whose uncle drowned in the Sacramento River Sunday, the changes are coming too late.

Thomas came back to the accident site Monday, expecting to find searchers still looking for the 24-year-old drowning victim. Instead, he found people back in the water at the exact same spot.

“I kind of was taking it like it wasn’t really too much of a concern,” Thomas said. “I don’t see any type of sign up saying beware of this area, it’s dangerous, or anything.”

Thomas said his uncle, who is still missing and has not been identified by authorities, came to the beach Sunday for a family gathering.

About 1 p.m., the river pulled him under and he never resurfaced.

More at KCRA.com >>>

Boating, Rafting, safety, Water

Crews search for body of drowning victim, 24, near Discovery Park

Rescue crews are searching for the body a 24-year-old man who is believed to have drowned near Tiscornia Park in Sacramento, the fourth victim this month in the are.

A witness told KCRA 3 that the man had fallen into the water along the Sacramento and American river confluence as he attempted to put a flotation device on a child.

Family members told the fire officials that he was swimming on the Sacramento side and may have yelled that he was caught on something before being swept underwater.

More at KCRA.com >>>

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

Folsom Lake Will be Drained to 120,000 Acre-Feet by September

In response to concerns from Sacramento water agencies, the Bureau of Reclamation is easing back drainage rates on Folsom Lake.

The State Water Resources Control Board is set to approve the updated plans, which aim to ease concerns from residents of Folsom, Roseville and other cities that depend on Folsom Lake for their water supply.

“Mindful of that critical water supply need we are intending to put in the specific end of September of quantity of 120,000 acre-feet of water,” said Deputy Director Les Grober.

Grober says fears about the water level came up when regulators tried to strike a balance between protecting fish and minimizing harm to agriculture.

More at KFBK.com >>>

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 >>>