Politics & Government

Gravel Helps Salmon Population in American River, Officials Say

In its fifth year, Bureau of Reclamation officials believe the 14,000 tons of gravel dumped into Sailor Bar continues to improve salmon spawning in the American River.

Beginning Sep. 10, The Bureau of Reclamation, will begin dumping approximately 14,000 tons of gravel into Sailor Bar, with the hope of promoting salmon spawning for the upcoming rearing season.

In its fifth year, USBR in partnership with the Water Forum, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and Sacramento County Regional Parks, looks to improve spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon that make the trek up the lower portion of the American River each year.

"Spawning actually occurs in a specific type and size of rock, primarily just river rock but the size of it is really important," said USBR spokesman Louis Moore.

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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, according to information provided by the USBR.

Moore said the Bureau looks for the areas that seem most appropriate for spawning and move that rock into the area. The initiative is part of the 1992 Central Valley Project Improvement Act to restore and replenish spawning gravel and rearing habitat.

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According to a USBR press release, the first load of gravel is scheduled to for deposit in the lower American River on Monday, Sept. 10. All work is expected to finish by Friday, Sept. 30. Work hours will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Moore noted the work would not require closure of the Sailor Bar parkway or any of its neighboring areas.

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.

To learn more about the program, the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact can be found here.

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