Category Archives: Wildlife

Bike Trail, Water, Wildlife

Legal fight looms over valley elderberry longhorn beetle

A group of Sacramento-area property owners and land managers has threatened to sue the federal government if it does not remove a native beetle from the endangered species list.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed removing the valley elderberry longhorn beetle from the endangered species list in 2006. But the process dragged and the beetle is still protected.

The Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento nonprofit law firm, claims the delay may have cost its clients millions of dollars. Those clients include landowners, levee maintenance districts and farm organizations required to protect beetle habitat.

There are signs that the beetle population has improved, and its habitat is relatively abundant. The valley elderberry bush, the beetle’s specific host plant, is hardy and commonplace. But because the beetle remains protected, construction projects are often required to relocate or replant the bushes at great expense.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, safety, Water, Wildlife

Some homeless say they won’t leave illegal camp site

A showdown appears to be brewing as Sacramento police officers evict 150 homeless people from an illegal campground along the American River.

While most of the homeless appear to be complying with orders to pack up their tents and move somewhere else, some say they will stand their ground and face arrest because they have no place else to go.

The confrontation started about 8 a.m. Wednesday when around 40 police officers arrived at the site near the intersection of North 10th Street and the American River. The campers were warned earlier this month that eviction was imminent.

“They asked me what I’m going to do,” said “Brother” Eli, a camp elder. “I said ‘I don’t have anywhere to go.’

“Recent efforts by city officials have added nearly 60 additional shelter beds for homeless men and women, but more than that number are camping at the American River site.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Water, Wildlife

Prime North Fork riverfront land near Auburn saved from development

A 40-acre swathe of undeveloped canyon land on the North Fork of the American River near Auburn is now under the protective wing of the Placer Land Trust.

The non-profit, Auburn-based land conservation organization closed escrow on the property last week. It’s located between Lake Clementine and Ponderosa Bridge.

Jeff Darlington, land trust executive director, said that in addition to its value as recreation land, the protection of the property benefits water quality, wildlife habitat and the scenic beauty of the American River canyon.

“This is a beautiful riverfront property in one of our strategic conservation focus areas – Lake Clementine,” Darlington said.

Auburn’s Emigrant Trails Greenway Trust, which has aided the Auburn School Park Preserve preservation efforts, among others, donated the 40-acre property to the land trust, along with a $50,000 cash contribution for property upkeep.

More at AuburnJournal.com >>>

Bike Trail, Fish, safety, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Effie Yeaw to hold speaker series on Sacramento’s natural wonders

The Effie Yeaw Nature Center along the American River is launching a new speaker series in January to illuminate the region’s natural wonders.The six-speaker series begins Jan. 20 with a presentation on venomous bites and stings.

Each event costs $5 per person, or $25 for all six. Space is limited and registration is required.

The first speaker is Mike Cardwell, an expert on venomous snakes and bite treatment. He’ll discuss California’s only dangerous native snake, the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, how to avoid bites, appropriate first-aid, and common myths about venomous snakes.

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Bike Trail, Fish, Rafting, safety, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

50 years of protecting the American River Parkway

The Save the American River Parkway Association celebrated its 50th anniversary this month and received a resolution from the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors honoring its accomplishments over the past five decades.

“We commend the work that a whole host of folks (at the association) have done in providing a strong voice for a precious resource,” Supervisor Don Nottoli said Tuesday as he presented the resolution.

The Save the American River Association is a volunteer, nonprofit group of more than 600 members and a Board of Directors that started in 1961 to develop the American River Parkway and to create a plan to maintain it.

The 23-mile American River Parkway hosts more than 5 million visitors each year for fishing, boating and rafting on the water – and picnicking, golfing and paved walking and bicycling trails for land lovers.

More at SacramentoPress.com >>>

Events, Fish, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Outbound Escapes: A fly fishing talk; a salmon watching spot

Fish fanciers take note: The salmon ladder at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery opened Nov. 1, signaling the official start of the spawning season on the Sacramento River.

Nimbus is one of three state-run hatcheries in the Central Valley that will take approximately 38 million eggs from salmon over the next two months in order to produce 24 million Chinook salmon for release next spring.

Nimbus has a viewing area where visitors may watch the spawning process and a playground where kids and adults may enjoy replicas of giant salmon.

The center, located at 2001 Nimbus Road, Suite F, Gold River, is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends every day except Christmas. Raceways (fish-rearing ponds) are open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Opening time may vary during spawning season.

For more information, go to www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Hatcheries/Nimbus.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, safety, Water, Wildlife

Parkway volunteers clean up trash at abandoned homeless camps

Volunteers for the American River Parkway Foundation are cleaning up trash left at abandoned homeless encampments along the parkway this morning.

About 150 volunteers hit the parkway shortly before 10 a.m., leaving from the Northgate parking lot of the recreation area.

“We want people to come enjoy the parkway,” said Dianna Poggetto, executive director of the foundation.

That’s hard to do when there’s a lot of trash, so the volunteers go out periodically to clean up what’s left behind by campers along the river.

More at SacBee.com >>
Events, Fish, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Salmon run to be on display as Nimbus fish ladder opens

The fish ladder at Nimbus Hatchery on the American River is expected to open for the season Tuesday, giving visitors a chance to witness a resurgent fall salmon run.

Visitors are likely to see a strong fall chinook salmon run at the hatchery for the first time in four years. Fishermen are enjoying the first full salmon season since 2007. Anglers are crowding both the American and Sacramento rivers for the chance to catch a king salmon, which typically return to spawn in their freshwater birthplace after three years in the ocean.

More at ModBee.com >>

Bike Trail, Water, Wildlife

Nonprofit group cares for Folsom Lake, Lake Natoma

A nonprofit group is lending a helping hand to the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in tough fiscal times.

“We are one of the newest state park cooperating associations,” said Linda McDonald, president of Friends of Lakes Folsom and Natoma, which is looking for more members to join the 2-year-old organization. “Our membership drive is just getting under way.”

McDonald, along with board members Crystal Barber, Paula David, Ken McKowen and Bob Hall, hope to help state parks officials maintain the recreation area that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year to its rolling hills of valley oak, chaparral and the two lakes. Wildlife includes herds of black-tailed deer and soaring red-tailed hawks.

“I love the park and want to give back,” McDonald said. “Folsom Lake was once a park away from the city. Now, it is surrounded by development. It covers three different counties – El Dorado, Sacramento and Placer. It is really one of the most heavily used parks in the state.”

More at SacBee.com >>