News Release Archive

Phase 3 to Begin for Lower American River Salmonid Spawning Gravel Augmentation Program

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: August 31, 2010

The Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with the Water Forum, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, and Sacramento County Regional Parks, will begin Phase 3 of the Lower American River Salmonid Spawning Gravel Augmentation Program (Program).

The work involves sorting and washing gravel previously removed from the American River in the 1800s. Some of the gravel is currently piled on the north side of the lower American River downstream of the Sailor Bar Recreation Area and will be processed and deposited approximately three-quarter mile downstream of the Hazel Avenue Bridge in the American River. Front end loaders will distribute the spawning gravel in the river.

The initial work to process the gravel will begin Tuesday, September 7. The first load of gravel is scheduled to be deposited in the lower American River on Monday, September 13. All work is expected to be completed by Monday, September 27. Work hours will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. All work will be within the confines of the Sailor Bar Recreation Area, near Hazel Avenue and Winding Way, Sacramento, CA.

This is the third year of a 5-year program to improve spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon in the lower American River. The existing spawning habitat consists of large rocks and fine sediment that reduces the ability for fish to construct redds (nests) and may reduce the number of eggs surviving and emerging from the redds as juvenile fish. Approximately 12,000 tons of spawning gravel will be added to the lower American River during this phase of the Program. This Program helps meet the requirements of the 1992 Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Section 3406 (b)(13), to restore and replenish spawning gravel and rearing habitat.

To learn more about the Program, please review the August 2008 Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, which are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=3202. To request a copy of the documents, please contact Douglas Kleinsmith at 916-978-5034 (TDD 916-978-5608) or e-mail dkleinsmith@usbr.gov. For additional information, please contact Louis Moore, 916-978-5106 (TDD 916-978-5608), or e-mail wmoore@usbr.gov.

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Relevant Link:

Lower American River Salmonid Spawning Gravel Augmentation Program