The building could be built on the American River next to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery.The federal and state government is studying three different locations for a new flood operation center that would house three state and federal agencies, the Department of Water Resources, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Weather Service.
The proposed site is the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and two alternative sites are Mather Airport and near the intersection of Sunrise and Killgore in Rancho Cordova.
The size of the proposed center is 200,000 square feet.
Hundreds of concerned residents are angry the government would even consider building such a large structure so close to the river and the bike trail.
Fire officials are asking the public to help identify the person responsible for a series of arson fires along the American River Parkway in recent days.
A total of 15 fires were deliberately set — nine on Sept. 10 and six on Wednesday, said Assistant Chief Scott Cockrum of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.
The arson occurred near River Bend Park, in an area of heavy vegetation that could fuel a major fire, Cockrum said.
“In this area there are no homes, but there is dense brush, with trees, shrubs and a lot of dead stuff,” he said.
Arson investigators said the grass fires along the American River Saturday morning were set intentionally.
“Having somebody coming through here and start these fires is really concerning that this was an intentional act to have a huge fire run through the American River Parkway,” Sacramento Metro Fire Assist. Chief Scott Cockrum said.
Sacramento Metro Fire crews fought seven to nine grass fires along the American River around 6 a.m. Saturday, Cockrum said.
The grass fires were spotted from River Bend Park to Hagan Park and burned 19 acres of land.
The Labor Day weekend was busy on the American River Parkway, but with the exception of visitors who sought to circumvent the holiday alcohol ban, crowds along the parkway were generally well-behaved, said John Havicon, ranger supervisor with Sacramento County Regional Parks.
“A lot of alcohol was poured out,” Havicon said.
He said 20 tickets were issued to people for violating the alcohol ban.
Havicon said rangers this year have found more people trying to bring in hard liquor, often in water bottles, for mixed drinks.
It’s hardly anarchy on the American River bike trail, a tranquil oasis in an otherwise busy suburban landscape, but some Boy Scouts and the city of Folsom are striving to make it even safer.
The two-lane trail that winds among the gray pine and oak trees close to Willow and Humbug creeks can be dicey when bicyclists and pedestrians pass one another.
To keep the wheeled and walking a safe distance apart, a simple remedy is planned: Boy Scouts will stencil rules of the road on the bike trail.
The American River Parkway will be “dry” and Sacramento County’s regional park fees will be higher over the Labor Day weekend.
The holiday ban on alcohol along the parkway – on shore and on the river – will be in effect from Saturday through Monday. Consumption of alcohol and possession of open containers will be prohibited within the parkway between Watt and Hazel avenues. The ordinance will be strictly enforced, and violations of the alcohol ban may result in a citation or arrest, according to a Sacramento County Regional Parks news release.
The body of a missing Sacramento-area fisherman was recovered from the American River late Friday afternoon, just a few hours after another man was found unresponsive further upstream.
Search crews found the body in the river near the Harrington Way river access, downstream of Riverbend Park, where park rangers found the fisherman’s truck parked Thursday night.
Assistant Chief Scott Cockrum of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said a fire district helicopter and boat crew were assisting law enforcement in the search and recovered the body.
The name of the 54-year-old fisherman was not released pending notification of family.
