News Release Archive

Lower American River Salmonid Spawning and Rearing Habitat Restoration Project to Begin in Nimbus Basin

Media Contact: Mat Maucieri, 916-978-5100, mmaucieri@usbr.gov

For Release: July 28, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Water Forum, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, will begin work on the 2014 American River Salmonid Spawning and Rearing Habitat Restoration Project in early August.

This seventh year of the Project continues the work of improving spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon in the lower American River. Much of the existing spawning habitat consists of large rocks and fine sediment that reduces the ability for the fish to construct redds (nests) and may reduce the number of eggs surviving and emerging as juvenile fish from the redds. A 350-yard-long side channel will be excavated along the south side of the river in the Nimbus Basin, and spawning gravel will be added to the main river channel. The side channel will be excavated and gravel will be placed in the river using excavators, front-end loaders and bulldozers to distribute the spawning gravel. This Project is one of many to help meet the requirements of the 1992 Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Section 3406 (b)(13), to restore and replenish spawning gravel and rearing habitat.

Work will begin Monday, August 4. Work hours will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Heavy equipment work is expected to be completed by the end of August, with tree planting expected to be done later. All work in the river is located between Nimbus Dam and Hazel Avenue.

Safety is a priority, and it is very important for the public to pay attention to the informational signage located around the Nimbus Basin.

To learn more about the Project, please review the 2014 Supplemental Environmental Assessment and the 2008 Final Environmental Assessment., which are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=3202. For additional information, please contact Louis Moore, 916-978-5106 (TTY 800-877-8339) or wmoore@usbr.gov.

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Relevant Link:

2014 Supplemental Environmental Assessment and the 2008 Final Environmental Assessment