GOLD RIVER, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation will temporarily decrease flows in the lower American River below Nimbus Dam on Thursday, August 9, 2012, from 4,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to as low as 1,000 cfs. This is to prepare the Nimbus Fish Hatchery weir foundation for installation of the weir's super structure. The weir super structure is installed annually to guide spawning Chinook salmon into the hatchery fish ladder. Folsom Dam, Folsom Reservoir and Nimbus Dam are located about 25 miles east of Sacramento, Calif., and are features of the Central Valley Project.

Approximate working hours will be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; however, Reclamation could begin increasing flows back to 4,500 cfs as early as 1 p.m., on Thursday. If additional work is required, lower maintenance flows could extend into Friday, August 10. Please note that increasing the flows in the lower American River to 4,500 will cause a rise of approximately 2 ½ feet.

Recreationists on or along the lower American River are advised to exercise caution due to cold river temperatures and variable flow conditions.

Daily information on expected flows in the American River can be found on the California Data Exchange Center website at http://cdec.water.ca.gov./queryRes.html or on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at http://www.spk-wc.usace.army.mil/generic/rel_rep_s.html .

For more information on the American River, please visit Reclamation’s Central Valley Operation Office website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo . If you encounter problems accessing the information online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov .

For additional information, please contact Louis Moore, Reclamation's Public Affairs Office, at
916-978-5106, TTY 916-978-5608, or email wmoore@usbr.gov.