Boating, Fish, safety, Water, Wildlife

Folsom Lake dropping, marina boats must go

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Folsom Lake levels are dropping rapidly and within a month boats at Brown’s Ravine Marina must be pulled.

Shane Hunt, spokesperson for the Bureau of Reclamation, said based on current estimates and operations, July releases will remain around 5,000 cubic feet per second.

“July is the highest demand for the Central Valley Project,” he said. “The reservoir releases form Folsom and Shasta are expected to be their highest this month.”

The Central Valley Project is the largest water delivery system in the country. It was devised in 1933 to provide irrigation and municipal water to much of California’s Central Valley.

“We provide water to millions of acres of farmland and well over a million people,” Hunt said. “It’s a combined system of 20 dams and reservoirs that we operate to meet a multitude of demands.”

While farmers and folks and fish downstream may benefit, boaters aren’t happy about the shortened boating season on Folsom Lake.

The past several years boats were pulled in July, due to the drought.

Joe Phum, of Folsom, and his father Joseph Phum were out enjoying Folsom Lake on a recent afternoon. Phum was not pleased after learning that the lake level will be getting lower and lower in the next month, cutting the boating season short.

More at FolsomTelegraph.com >>>

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Campfire restrictions for state’s national forests

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At the peak of the summer-vacation camping season, restrictions on campfires go into effect Monday across Tahoe National Forest and much of California’s 20 million acres of national forests. Campfires will be restricted to existing campfire rings at approved campgrounds, with a campfire permit from a U.S. Forest Service district office also needed.

The new era of camping stoves takes much of the bite out of the issue for campers, as campfires are being used more for their ambience and to roast marshmallows or heat up s’mores than for cooking meals.

This year’s wildfires in California have been mostly in Southern California.

In central and northern California, the Trailhead Fire in Eldorado National Forest burned 5,646 acres near Volcanoville, which shut down a rafting put-in for the week at the Middle Fork of the American River. Firefighters held the fire to a staked-out perimeter, and as of Sunday, had it 90 percent contained.

The cause of that fire is under investigation.

More at SFChronicle.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

San Francisco Woman Drowns in Rafting Accident on American River

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A San Francisco woman died Saturday during a rafting accident in the American River in unincorporated El Dorado County, sheriff’s officials said.

Around 4 p.m., sheriff’s deputies received a call reporting an accident on the South Fork of the American River near the community of Kyburz, sheriff’s officials said.

The caller said several people had been in inner tubes on the river. After going through a section of rapids, the group realized that one person was missing, according to sheriff’s officials.

Deputies, along with firefighters from Cal Fire and the El Dorado County Fire Protection District responded and immediately began searching for the victim.

About 45 minutes later, authorities located the female victim submerged in a section of heavy rapids. The victim was taken from the river and pronounced dead.

More at NBCBayArea.com >>>

Fire, safety, Water, Wildlife

Firefighters contain 85 percent of Trailhead Fire

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Firefighters on Wednesday had brought the Trailhead Fire to 85 percent containment — a 60 percent increase from Independence Day.

The fire, in Placer and El Dorado counties, now covers 5,619 acres. It’s caused three injuries and threatens 2,600 buildings, though no structures have been damaged or destroyed, Cal Fire said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The blaze, in the middle fork of the American River, near Todd Valley, began June 28. At one point over 2,100 people battled the fire, though that number had dropped by Wednesday to about 1,600.

More at TheUnion.com >>>

Fire, safety, Wildlife

Trailhead Fire Containment Grows

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The Trailhead Fire ignited on June 28 in the Middle Fork of the American River Canyon in Placer county. The fire is now burning in El Dorado County and on the Eldorado National Forest. Crews hope to have the blaze fully contained by Saturday July 09.

The fire is currently burning 5,614 acres with 75 percent containment according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Three injuries are attributed to the fire. No homes have been damaged or destroyed. All evacuations on the El Dorado County side of the fire were lifted yesterday at 5 p.m.

More at CapRadio.org >>>

Bike Trail, safety, Water

Folsom Dam Auxiliary Spillway Project Blasting Begins

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Expect to hear loud blasts coming from the Folsom Dam on Tuesday as construction crews work on the new spillway project.

Construction officials say the blasting will happen between 7 to 8 p.m. and will continue weekdays through next Friday.

A series of horns will signal when it’s starting and when it’s clear.

Nearby Folsom Lake Crossing Road will close about a half hour before blasting and re-open when it’s finished.

More at CBSLocal.com >>>

Fire, Rafting, safety, Water, Wildlife

Fire grows to 5,044 acres in El Dorado, Placer counties

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The wildfire in El Dorado and Placer counties has now burned 5,044 acres and 20 percent contained, according to Cal Fire officials Sunday.

About 2,600 structures are threatened by the fire but none were reported damaged or destroyed by the fire so far, officials said.

Fire crews continue to monitor fire lines, hoping to slow down the so-called Trailhead Fire, especially near the Volcanoville area.

The containment lines held overnight in Placer County, where fire crews patrolling and monitoring fire lines, officials said. Residents in Todd Valley remain under voluntary evacuation.

Placer County mandatory evacuations have been downgraded to voluntary: Only residents with photo ID will be allowed beyond the staffed roadblocks. All homes east of Green Ridge Road to Oakwood Lane to Nugget Drive, Skyview Terrace Mobile Home Park, Oak Wood Court, Vinewood Court, Trail Head Court, Green Pine Court, Alton Trail Court, Gray Court, Tevis Court and White Tail Court and homes to the west of the above.

As for road closures in Placer County, Nugget Drive and Oakwood Lane are restricted to residents only, officials said.

The favorable temperatures overnight helped fire crews maintain containment lines on the El Dorado County side of the Trailhead Fire, Cal Fire said.

Crews have completed the line from west of Jakeys Hill, west to Buckeye Point and eventually to the American River, officials said. Several spot fires occurred Saturday night but firefighters were able to stop them and hold the fire at the river. Crews will continue to monitor Sunday.

In the Volcanoville area, fire crews are continuing to strengthen the fire lines west of the community in areas around Volcanoville, Kentucky Flat and Bottle Hill, officials said. There is still a mandatory evacuation order in effect for those areas.

The only campground directly affected by the fire is Dru Barner in the Georgetown Ranger District, which is within the fire closure area, Cal Fire said. No roads or campgrounds are closed in the Tahoe National Forest due to this fire.

Access to the middle fork of the American River from the Oxbow Reservoir put-in and Ruck-A-Chucky take-out is temporarily closed, officials said.

More at KCRA.com >>>

Fire, Fish, Rafting, safety, Wildlife

River access closed off due to Trailhead Fire

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Access to the Middle Fork of the American River From Oxbow Reservoir put in to Ruck-A-Chucky take out was closed Friday to protect firefighter and public safety, due to the continued growth of the Trailhead Fire.

The fire near Foresthill, in Placer and El Dorado counties, was up to 2,151 acres with 12 percent containment being reported Friday.

As of 7 a.m. Friday, no structures had been damaged or destroyed; all evacuations were still in effect.

Nearly 2,000 firefighting personnel were battling the Trailhead Fire along the Middle Fork of the American River.

At 5:30 p.m., a spokesperson from CalFire said there had been a shift on the eastern side of the fire, with a run up Jakey’s Hill that was getting close to Volcanoville.

Several dozer lines had been constructed and it was hoped that early diurnal winds down the hillside would keep the fire from reaching the Volcanoville area.

Firefighters did use some firing on the southern side of the fire to try and burn out fuels, and have been holding the fire to the north at the Placer County Line.

Crews were able to complete and strengthen lines overnight to prevent fire spread up Peachstone Gulch, and contingency lines are in place to protect the community of Todd Valley.

More at TheUnion.com >>>

Fire, safety, Water

Trailhead fire in Sierra foothills grows to 2,151 acres

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A wildland fire in the Sierra foothills grew to 2,151 acres Friday, forcing the evacuations of 1,650 people as it threatened scores of structures, officials said.

The Trailhead fire started Tuesday afternoon along the Middle Fork of the American River, in steep and hard-to-reach terrain near Todd Valley in El Dorado and Placer counties, roughly 130 miles northeast of San Francisco.

The fire was just 12 percent contained Friday morning and had spread from just 350 acres on Wednesday.

More at SFGate.com >>>