Category Archives: Events

Events, Fish, Rafting, safety, Water, Wildlife

50 Years of the Middle Fork American River Project

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.

More at RocklinToday.com >>>

Events, safety, Water, Wildlife

Volunteers wanted to upgrade former Boy Scout Camp

Camp Pollock, formally the Boy Scout Camp, soon to be under SVC’s management is a new 11 acre acquisition by the State Lands Commission along the American River and can be found just north of downtown Sacramento, under Hwy 160.

As a volunteer, you will lend a hand to Camp Pollock’s projects. The tasks include: upgrade and expand camping areas, assemble a court yard with an interpretive native plant garden, build benches, construct picnic tables and create a trail in front of Lodge for public access.

More at CalCommNews.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, safety, Water, Wildlife

Celebrate Earth Day by helping out parks

Celebrate Earth Day by helping out parks

Earth Day isn’t until April 22, but you can get a jump on helping the planet Saturday by fixing up one of California’s state parks.

From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the California State Parks Foundation will run 24 projects across the state as part of its 16th annual Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. provided a $210,000 grant to the foundation and participating parks for supplies.

Sacramento-area events include:

• Volunteers will clean up around the American River and install animal-proof trash and recycling bins at the Auburn State Recreation Area on Old Foresthill Road.

• At Beal’s Point, part of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, crews will install 200 feet of fence, treat benches with weather sealant, remove weeds, and clean, paint and repair kiosk panels.

Space is limited, so volunteers must register in advance. Go to the foundation’s website at calparks.org/earthday or call (888) 987-2757.

This year marks the 43rd anniversary of the first Earth Day, which was inspired by outrage over a massive oil spill off the Santa Barbara coast.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, safety, Water, Wildlife

Weekend cleanup on tap for American River Parkway

A cleanup this weekend will target the lower portions of the American River Parkway where homeless campers have left litter.

The American River Parkway Foundation is staging the cleanup on the stretch of land just east of the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers. The cleanup occurs between Mile 1 and Mile 3 on the parkway.

“It’s been more challenging to control the impact the homeless have had on the parkway, but we want to make sure that the community can come to this area and enjoy its natural resources,” said Dianna Poggetto, executive director of the foundation.

More at SacBee.com >>

 

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, Wildlife

14,000 pounds of trash picked up along American River Parkway trail

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.

More at ModestoBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety, Video, Water, Wildlife

Hundreds Of Volunteers Join In 18th Annual American River Cleanup

 

Hundreds of volunteers were out scaling the American River on cleanup patrol.

The annual Great American River Cleanup in Rancho Cordova had thousands of volunteers on land and water Saturday.

“It’s mostly people dropping their stuff and not bothering to pick it up,” said a volunteer.

For 18 years in a row, the Great American River Cleanup covered a 23-mile span along the river in efforts to beautify the parkway.

“We have roughly 2,500 volunteers today,” said Stacy Springer, a volunteer manager.

More at CBSLocal.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, safety, Water, Wildlife

American River Parkway Foundation offers ways to give back

On Saturday, Sept. 15, about 2,500 volunteers are expected to take part in the American River Parkway Foundation’s annual Great American River Clean Up.

According to Stacy Springer, volunteer manager for the American River Parkway Foundation, which is based in Carmichael, these volunteers will spend three hours that morning cleaning up 20 site locations along the American River of trash and other debris. “And that does not even include the huge kayak and dive teams that go out and address the shoreline and deeper water channels,” she said.

Springer said it’s easy to volunteer for the Great American River Clean Up – volunteers just need to register on the Foundation’s website, www.arpf.org, and then show up on the day of the clean-up wearing closed-toe shoes and long pants, plus sunblock and hat if the day is sunny and warm.

More at ValComNews.com >>>

Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Alcohol Ban Keeps American River Calm Over Holiday Weekend

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.

More at CBSLocal.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Alcohol prohibited on American River, parkway over Labor Day weekend

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.

More at SacBee.com >>>