News Release Archive

Phase 5 to Begin for Lower American River Salmonid Spawning Gravel Augmentation Program

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

For Release: August 27, 2012

FAIR OAKS, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with the Water Forum, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and Sacramento County Regional Parks, will begin Phase 5 of the Lower American River Salmonid Spawning Gravel Augmentation Program (Program).

This is the fifth year of a program to improve spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon in the lower American River. The science based program has been very successful at increasing spawning and rearing habitats in the river and will be continued at least one more year. 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 14,000 tons of 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.

The initial work to prepare the site will begin Monday, Aug. 27. The first load of gravel is scheduled to be deposited in the lower American River on Monday, Sept. 10. All work is expected to be completed by Friday, Sept. 30. 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, Fair Oaks, CA.

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 1 mile downstream of the Hazel Avenue Bridge in the American River. Front-end loaders and bulldozers will be used to distribute the spawning gravel in the river. For their safety, the public should pay attention to the informational signage located throughout the Sailor Bar Recreation area and especially near the work site.

To learn more about the Program, please review the Aug. 2008 Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, as amended, 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 (TTY 916-978-5608) or email dkleinsmith@usbr.gov. For additional information, please contact Louis Moore, 916-978-5106 (TTY 916-978 5608) or email wmoore@usbr.gov.

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Relevant Link:

2008 Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact