Category Archives: Rafting

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, safety

Sacramento supervisors extend alcohol ban on American River Parkway

Sacramento County supervisors voted to extend a ban on alcohol along the American River Parkway following last month’s drunken fracas at an event called Rafters Gone Wild.

Supervisors granted the county parks director the authority to ban alcohol consumption on the parkway between Hazel and Watt avenues when he anticipates such events could threaten public safety.

The action extends the county’s previous drinking ban on the parkway, which is in effect on three holidays – Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day. Supporters of the stronger ban say they expect young revelers will find a way around it.

“They’ve declared war on you,” said John Barris, a retired county juvenile court administrator.

This was the second year public safety officials struggled to contain fights, nudity and other questionable activity at Rafting Gone Wild, an event that has been promoted through social media without any support by a known organization. More than 3,000 people showed up to the event last month, with 23 people arrested.

More at SacBee.com >>>
Rafting, safety

Parks Dept. Asks for More River Alcohol Bans, Policy Clarification

County parks officials want to have the authority to ban alcohol along a portion of the American River on more days during the summer than just holidays, and to also prohibit drinking in rafts.

The move comes weeks after the second “rafters gone wild” event, where hundreds of people rafted, boated and hung out along the American River, many of them drinking.

During this year’s event back in July, deputies arrested 23 people, and many more were picked up for being intoxicated but were turned away by medical staff at the jail.

Last year, the first year of the social-media-driven event, 12 people were arrested for alcohol-related violations, and dozens of others were given citations for unlawful possession of booze.

The Department of Regional Parks is recommending two things; one, authorizing the Director of Regional Parks to prohibit alcohol consumption on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day, and any other day during the summer which the Director believes drinking on the river will result in public safety issues.

More at Fox40.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, Fire, Fish, Rafting, safety, Water, Wildlife

Surprise $54M won’t impact Auburn recreation areas

Auburn and Folsom state recreation areas won’t benefit from $54 million recently found stashed in California State Parks’ budget.

Local recreation officials said the 25-year partnership between the two recreation areas and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that was signed last January prevents any of the newly found money from potentially being allocated to Auburn or Folsom Lake by the governor.

“No, that money will go to the governor to be appropriated, but it should have no impact on Auburn Recreation Area or any of the units associated with the agreement,” said Matt Green, superintendent of the Gold Fields District of State Parks.

That means the recreation areas will continue to be, in Green’s words, “self-sustaining” through revenue it generates partially through fees and supplemental funding it gets from the Bureau of Reclamation. On July 1, new fees were added to parking areas in the Auburn and Folsom Lake state recreation areas or existing fees were increased.

For example, parking along the road in the Auburn State Recreation Area was free before, but on July 1 a $10-per-day fee was imposed in the confluence area and in the Lake Clementine area boat launching fees were also increased to $10.

California State Parks recently found $54 million of unspent money in its budget due to underreporting of funds to the state Department of Finance for the last 12 years, according to a press release by the state Natural Resources Agency.

Roughly $20.3 million of recreation funds and more than $33.4 million off-highway vehicle funds were unused by State Parks, the release stated.

Katy Veling, of Auburn, was enjoying the confluence area near Auburn on Wednesday and said she wishes the $54 million could be used to either lessen or do away with the fees. She even said the new parking fee has kept her away from her favorite swimming spot on the American River.

 More at ColfaxRecord.com >>>
Rafting, safety, Water

Man rescued from American River

A man was rescued from the American River after being pinned against a bridge pillar Monday afternoon.

Sacramento Metro crews responded to 8661 La Riviera Drive around 4:40 p.m. to find the victim finding to keep his head above water, Capt. Forrest Rowell said.

Two to three inner tubes were tied together as they floated down the river. The victim got off one of the inner tubes, but his leg got wrapped in a rope and he was stuck. The strong current pushed him against a pillar on a bridge. Powell said the man kept fighting to keep his head above water until rescue crews arrived.

More at News10.net >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

Marine Drowns In American River After Current Pulls Him Under

 

There was tragedy along the American River Saturday afternoon when four military buddies were hoping to cool off.

Three made it across the river but one didn’t.

“I tried to swim and catch him and he went under,” said Chris Crotte, the victim’s friend.

Crotte did all he could to save his friend, Michael Berry.

“It was pretty dramatic,” said one witness.

As hundreds of people were enjoying the afternoon sun along the American River near Hagan Park, four buddies decided to cool off and swim across.

“Three made it but one didn’t,” said Walt White, Sacramento Metro Fire.

More at CBSLocal.com >>>

Rafting, safety, Water

Missing swimmer recovered from American River

A reported missing swimmer was recovered today from the American River, said Walter White, assistant chief of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

Four people attempted to swim across the American River this afternoon near Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova, White said. Three made it across, and about 4:30 p.m. the district received a call.

A helicopter was sent out and an adult male was found, White said. He said witnesses gave conflicting accounts of how long the swimmer had been underwater – ranging from five to 30 minutes.

More at SacBee.com >>>

Bike Trail, Events, Rafting, Water

Eppie’s Great Race draws more than 2,000 competitors to American River Parkway

More than 2,000 people sprinted, pedaled and rowed in Eppie’s Great Race today, with veteran Vic Vicari, fresh face Diana Hellman and a group named “Vitek Vikings” seizing the honors of Ironman, Ironwoman and the team champion.

“The World’s Oldest Triathlon” consists of a 5.82-mile run and a 12.5-mile bike ride along the American River Parkway trail, and a 6.35-mile paddle on the river. Since its origin in 1974, organizers have presented about $970,000 to the race’s primary beneficiary, Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services.

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Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Expansion of American River alcohol ban considered

Sacramento officials are mulling whether to expand a holiday ban on alcohol on the American River after a recent event was marred by violence and arrests.

The Sacrament Bee reported ( http://bit.ly/OE7CPc) that the county Board of Supervisors would discuss extending the ban after last weekend’s “Rafters Gone Wild,” an event that drew more than 3,000 revelers to the river.

Authorities said rocks and bottles were thrown at officers and paramedics during Saturday’s event, as they tried to break up brawls and provide aid.

More ate MercuryNews.com >>>

Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Drunken brawls erupt on sunny American River raft route

Even the most serene setting can turn ugly, given enough time and alcohol.

That truism was proved Saturday on the American River during the second annual Rafters Gone Wild. Luring more than 3,000 people onto the water for a peaceful float, the event eventually degenerated into a series of brawls and rock-throwing incidents.

For much of the day, law enforcement and fire rescue officials busied themselves keeping watch over rafters having trouble with rapids or falling out of their boats.

By 5 p.m., however, dozens were fighting on the shores of Ancil Hoffman Park, beating each other with paddles or rocks and hurling stones at fire and rescue boats, officials said.

“It started out fairly reasonable, but as they day went on, the drunkenness and the fights increased with them,” said Sgt. Randy Lewis, a Sacramento County park ranger. He added that law enforcement officials were dealing with fights constantly after 5 p.m.

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Events, Rafting, safety, Water

Authorities out in force as Rafters Gone Wild gets under way

More than 1,000 rafters have taken to the American River in today’s second annual Rafters Gone Wild event publicized through Facebook and other social media that’s expected to draw as many as 3,000 revelers to the Sacramento waterway.

Law enforcement and rescue personnel are out in force, with as many as 50 to 60 officers patrolling the waters, authorities said.

Scott Cockrum, deputy chief of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department, said there has been one call for rescue so far with a person struggling in the San Juan rapids without a life jacket. While the rafting events initial hours have been calm, Cockrum said it could take hours before authorities start to see problems on the river.

More at SacBee.com >>>