The American River Flows Free Again!

The American River near Auburn is flowing free for the first time in 40 years after local agencies closed the tunnel and rebuilt the riverbed around the Auburn Dam site. Since it is likely that the Auburn Dam will never be built (after years of controversy and $400 million dollars) government agencies have returned the river to its original bed, with a few manmade improvements paddlers will love. An architecturally designed permanent river bottom – a series of pools lined with stone embedded in concrete – will create a swirling stretch of class III rapids as long as the water is up, according to the agencies that spent $30 million to restore the riverbed. Because of the attraction, the designers also created a concrete "portage" path alongside the river where paddlers can easily portage their kayak, canoe or raft, perhaps to carry it back for another ride down the rapids.

Boaters accessing this newly opened recreation area will likely put in at the confluence and take out at Rattlesnake Bar, 6 miles downstram, flows permitting. Although the stretch does not rival the exciting class IV and V stretches on the upriver forks of the Middle and North American, this mellow stretch will be perfect for families, paddling instruction, and anyone looking for a scenic, mellow river trip. According to Bill Center, former El Dorado County Superviser, owner of Camp Lotus, and longtime paddler, "It really does open up a sweet section of the river."

The restoration work also included a water-pumping station on the riverbank that will serve 55,000 homes a year for the Placer County Water Agency. Builders created a chute alongside the left bank that will channel a stream into the pump station. The $30 million price tag for the entire river restoration work includes the high cost of the pumping station.

Boaters could begin using this stretch of river as early as next spring, although there are some challenges faced by Auburn State Parks and Recreation Department regarding parking. Jay Galloway, Park Superintendent, expects to hold hearings and invite public comment on the revised recreation plan sometime next spring. Stay tuned so your voice can be heard. For more information, click Friends of the River article, or Sacramento Bee article. Photo courtesy PARC.

American River Canyon Hikes- Our New Favorite Book!

Boaters, hikers, equestrians, and shuttle bunnies alike will appreciate the newly revised: American River Canyon Hikes: Practical Guides to Trails in the Canyons of the North and Middle Forks American River. In its fourth printing, this book presents 24 trails in well researched detail, with trail length, difficulty, slope elevations and trail profiles, as well as parking and trailhead information. Hikers will enjoy reading about significant points of natural and historic interest chronicled in the book. The book is full of interesting tidbits such as the Foresthill Bridge's height, which at 730 feet, makes it the tallest bridge in California.

Hiking along the American River canyons is a year round enjoyment, but particularly so now that fall is here. The deciduous oaks turn yellow and drop their leaves and the earth is wet and green from the most recent rainfall. This book is available at REI and other local retailers. For more details about the book and hiking in the American River Canyons check out http://www.canyonkeepers.org/.

South Fork American River release schedule

SMUD and PG&E agreed to supply predictable recreational releases from Chili Bar Dam on the South Fork of the American River through 2007, even though formal agreements are not yet in place. These releases will ensure whitewater paddlers of flows of 1300 cfs on the Chili Bar run, from 9 a.m. through noon, on Saturdays and Sundays through December, 2007. During the week, there may or may not be boatable flows, depending on power needs and maintenance schedules.

Visit Dreamflows for a chart of the expected releases.

Change in El Dorado County Parks & Recreation

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is considering a proposal to dismantle the Airports, Parks and Grounds department. This is the group that manages county parks such as Henningsen-Lotus, and whitewater recreation on the South Fork of the American River. We've posted a PDF of the reorganization proposal.

If you would like to hear more about the plans and let your Supervisors know how you would like to see recreational facilities and opportunities managed in the County, come to the public meeting tomorrow, October 2, 2007, in the BOS chambers, 330 Fair Lane, Building B, in Placerville. The item is #25 on the BOS agenda. See the BOS website for details. The meeting starts at 9 a.m., which means that this item will probably be discussed sometime between 10 a.m. and noon, but could be as late as 1 or 2 p.m.

This may be the public's only opportunity to comment on this subject, but if you cannot attend the meeting, you can email your supervisor. See addresses on the BOS website.