Category Archives: Water

Fish, Salmon, Water, Wildlife

Auburn Ravine salmon restoration effort aims for Auburn

The goal is clear: To allow salmon to move upstream along the Auburn Ravine to spawn at two Auburn city parks.

But for Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead President Jack Sanchez, what looks like a quixotic quest to some can be done with determination and cooperation.

Sanchez outlined the organization’s movement toward the ultimate goal of spawning salmon turning the Auburn Ravine shades of gold and red on a future fall day.

The Nevada Irrigation District has been working to retrofit two dams – Hemphill and Gold Hill – before salmon can reach Wise Powerhouse, at the corner of Ophir and Wise roads in Ophir, just outside Auburn city limits.

More at AuburnJournal.com >>>

safety, Water, Wildlife

Deer Trapped In Frigid Canal Waters Pulled To Safety

Sacramento Metro fire crews had to use their skills and training to rescue a helpless deer trapped Tuesday in the frigid waters of a canal near the American River.

Just before noon, the deer somehow became trapped in the drainage canal in the area of White Rock and International Drive. The powerful current forced the deer north down the canal.

When fire crews arrived at the scene, they found the deer unsuccessfully making an effort to get out of the canal. The deer — believed to be a couple of years old — kept sliding back into the water because of the slippery slopes of the canal.It was unknown how long the deer was trapped in the canal before fire crews arrived at the scene.

Firefighters decided to make a rescue attempt and got a raft into the canal. A crew in the raft was able to lasso the animal and pull it ashore.

More at KCRA.com >>>

safety, Water

Body found below Foresthill Bridge identified

The Placer County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office has identified the man found in the American River Tuesday morning as Peter Matthew Wynters, 30, from Newport Oregon.

An autopsy revealed that Wynters died from injuries consistent with jumping from the Foresthill Bridge. His body was found by a hiker in the water at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, directly under the span. The man’s body was recovered with the assistance of the sheriff’s dive team and helicopter.

More at AburnJournal.com >>>

safety, Water

Body found in American River below Foresthill Bridge near Auburn still not ID’d

A man whose body was found in the American River below Foresthill Bridge near Auburn remained unidentified Thursday.

The Placer County coroner said the man’s body was spotted by a hiker late Tuesday morning floating in the North Fork of the American River. The location was just below the 730-foot-high bridge.

Lt. Mark Reed said Thursday that despite a call out to the public for help in identifying the body, no information had been received to match a name to the corpse.

An autopsy was being performed to determine the cause of death, Reed added.

The man is described as a white male, in his late 20s to early 40s. He is 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 169 pounds. He has brown hair with a receding hairline, hazel eyes and a full beard.

More at AuburnJournal.com >>>

safety, Water

Identity Sought Of Man Pulled From American River

The Placer County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man whose body was found in the American River Tuesday morning directly underneath the Foresthill Bridge.

A hiker called the sheriff’s office Tuesday at around 11 a.m. to report that she saw a body floating in the water. The man’s body was recovered with the assistance of the sheriff’s dive team and helicopter.

More at Sacramento.cbslocal.com >>>

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 >>>

Water

Folsom Lake is deceivingly dry

Folsom Lake looks low this time of year.

The dry month may be partly to blame. But, in reality, the lake is only slightly lower than it was this time last year, and holds 88 percent of its average capacity for December.

In winter, the lake must be kept about half-full to provide adequate storage to protect Sacramento from floods.

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.

More at SacBee.com >>>