LoWER AmERicAN RivER WATERShEd

Lower American River Watershed
Sailor Bar on the Lower American River
Lower American River, Negro Bar State Park2
Lower American Flowing Through Sacramento1
44
5
Inskip Hill
36
Chester
Turner Mt.
Diamond Mt.
36
Dyer Mt.
Onion Bt.
Humboldt
Summit
Red Bluff
89
395
Mt. Ingalls
Corning
Bald Eagle Mt.
32
70
Mt. Ararat
70
Chico
Willows
Rive r
5
Colusa
99
Pilot Pk.
Bloomer Hill
49
Saddleback Mt.
Sierra Bt.s
Oroville
49
Pike County Pk.
Signal Pk.
Lowest – 23 ft. at Sacramento
River confluence
Population: ~601,000
Castle Pk.
Mt. Lincoln
Nevada City
Sutter Buttes
Banner Mt.
Snow Mt.
Whisky Hill
Grass Valley
Sutter
Williams
Little Bald Mt.
Yuba City
Lake
Tahoe
80
Auburn
Lookout Mt.
Big Hill
Placerville
Esparto
Annual Average Precipitation:
23 inches
Highest – 400 ft. at Folsom Dam
89
Bowman Mt.
Oregon Pk.
Gridley
Watershed Size: 1,875 square miles
Elevation:
70
Eureka Pk.
Watershed Statistics
Watershed Length: ~30 miles
N E V A D A
139
Lassen Pk.
44
S a c r am e n t o
The Lower American River Watershed
begins at Folsom Dam and flows 30 miles
to its confluence with the Sacramento
River near downtown Sacramento.
Folsom Dam creates Folsom Lake,
which provides flood protection for
the Sacramento area; water supplies
for irrigation, domestic, municipal, and
industrial uses; hydropower; recreational
opportunities; and maintenance of flows
stipulated to protect fish and wildlife.
Flows from Folsom Lake are captured
by Nimbus Dam and re-regulated before
flowing through the floodplain and
urbanized Sacramento area. The Lower
American River Watershed is valuable
to the region and beyond, with more
than 40 species of native and nonnative
fish documented in the river, including
fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead.
Although the river runs through the highly
urbanized Sacramento area, the river is
buffered by the 30-mile-long American
River Parkway, known as Sacramento’s
Jewel, which runs from Folsom to the
Sacramento River confluence near Old
Sacramento. Water quality is considered
to be very good. The Lower American
River has been designated a “Recreational
River” under both the California Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act and the National Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act.
Redding
C A L I F O R N I A
The Watershed at a Glance
50
Sacramento
Davis
Vacaville
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50
Woodland
Mokelumne Pk.
Dixon
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49
Lower American Watershed
Yuba, American, Bear Subregion
0
20 Miles
Counties: Placer, El Dorado, Sutter,
Sacramento
Management Issues: flood
management, water supply management,
fisheries management
Lower American River Watershed within the American Subregion
PAGE 152
S
AMERICAN RIVER SUBREGION: Lower American River Watershed
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Dams over 25’
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Folsom Dam and Reservoir
Hydrology
Pl e a s a n t
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Lake Natoma
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Bypa
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Hydrology in the Lower American River Watershed
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Yo l o
Also included in the Lower American River Watershed
are the following streams (often referred to as the
American River Basin), which are located between
the American and Feather River systems: Coon
Creek, Markham Ravine, Auburn Ravine, pleasant
Grove Creek, Curry Creek, Dry Creek, Cordova Creek
(aka Clifton’s Drain), and Arcade Creek. Most of these
creeks enter the floodplain drainage systems of
the Natomas Cross Canal and Natomos East Main
Drainage Canal in southern Sutter and northern
Sacramento Counties. The Natomas Cross Canal
drains into the Sacramento River just south of the
Feather River, and the Natomas East Main Drainage
Canal drains into the Sacramento River just to the
north of the American River.
Water Quality
American River water is generally characterized as
high quality surface water that is low in alkalinity,
mineral content, and organic contamination. Turbidity
levels in the American River tend to be higher in
the winter than summer because of higher flows
associated with winter storms.
In 1991, Sacramento Regional County Sanitation
District formed a partnership with the city of
Sacramento and Sacramento County’s Water
G rov
.
Cr
The Lower American River Watershed originates
from Folsom Lake, which was created by Folsom
Dam. The dam is located about 30 miles east of
Sacramento and is a critical component of the
Central Valley Project. Although it was it was
originally authorized by Congress in 1944 as flood
control unit, Folsom Dam was reauthorized in 1949
as a multipurpose facility to also store water ford
irrigation, domestic, municipal and industrial use,
hydropower generation, recreation, water quality
and maintenance of flows stipulated to protect
fish. Folsom Lake features roughly 10,000 surface
acres of water when full and has 75 miles of
shoreline. It extends about 15 miles up the North
Fork American River and about 10 ½ miles up the
South Fork. During a 24-hour period, the releases
of water from Folsom Dam can vary greatly to
meet changing demands for water and power.
Nimbus Dam, 7 miles downstream from Folsom
Dam, stores these releases and re-regulates them
to a steady flow downstream in the American
River and allows Folsom Dam releases and power
generation to fluctuate with daily power demands.
Nimbus Dam forms Lake Natoma located in the
town of Folsom. The Lower American River has
levees on its north and south banks for about 13
miles from the Sacramento River to Carmichael
on the north end. Portions of the floodplain have
been acquired by either the City or County of
Sacramento and is managed cooperatively as the
American River Parkway.
Resources Division to improve understanding of water quality in the Sacramento and American Rivers.
Concerned about the lack of reliable scientific data about pollutants in local rivers, these agencies joined to
establish the nationally recognized Sacramento Coordinated Monitoring Program. With Sacramento Regional
County Sanitation District as the lead agency, this program has resulted in reliable data on more than 50
pollutants and parameters of concern for Sacramento-area surface water quality. In addition, Wastewater
Treatment Plant operators throughout the region are required to monitor multiple surface water quality
parameters at the sites of their discharges and downstream.
Water Forum
By the early 1990s the Sacramento region had suffered 30 years of litigious battle over the American River.
Additionally, the last two California droughts brought the region water supply cutbacks and environmental
degradation. Compounding these problems was a water table that had been lowered in some areas by as
much as 90 feet due to over reliance on groundwater. Moreover, parts of area groundwater basins were
contaminated.
Adding to water supply concerns was an increasing awareness of environmental conditions along the Lower
American River. With water demand growing alongside population and growing concern for the environment,
leaders recognized that only negotiations involving all sides seemed the clearest solution to the area’s water
woes. In 1993, the City and County of Sacramento convened the Water Forum, a diverse group of business and
agricultural leaders, citizens groups, environmentalists, water managers and local governments to find solutions
to the water dilemma. In 1995, water managers in Placer and El Dorado Counties joined the Forum. The group
worked hard over a period of six years to develop a comprehensive package to address achieve two coequal
objectives:
Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development to
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the year 2030, and
»»
Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the Lower American River.
The result is the Water Forum Agreement, signed by 40 stakeholder organizations in April 2000. The Water
Forum Agreement memorized these coequal objectives by calling for implementation of the following 7
elements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Increased surface water diversions;
Drier year diversion reductions;
Improved flow standard;
Habitat management;
5. Water conservation;
6. Groundwater management; and
7. Water Forum Successor Effort
Through funding provided by local water purveyors, The Water Forum Successor Effort has been working to
implement these seven elements. In addition, the Water Forum Successor Effort has also provided an ongoing
forum for resolving new water-related conflicts in the Sacramento Region.
PAGE 153
AMERICAN RIVER SUBREGION: Lower American River Watershed
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Camp
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Annual Grass
B ear
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Ame r i
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Fo r k
Mi
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Co
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Auburn
Fe a
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Pl e a s a n t
The Lower American River is listed on the Clean
Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired water
bodies for mercury and unknown toxicity. Arcade
ca n
Creek
is listed for copper and chlorpyrifos/diazinon.
r
Bear
Ame
ri
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B
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r
i ve
Urban-Agriculture
R i ve
The Lower American River is listed on the Clean
Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired water
bodies for mercury and unknown toxicity. Arcade
Creek is listed for copper and chlorpyrifos/diazinon.
R iv e r
R i ve r
Dr y
Cr
G rov
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Folsom
Lake
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Folsom
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Lake Natoma
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Rancho
Cordova
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a
The Lower American River Watershed supports
more than 40 species of native and nonnative
fish, including naturally spawning fall-run Chinook
salmon, steelhead, and American shad. Several of
these species are of primary management concern
because of their declining numbers, or their
importance to recreational/commercial fisheries.
Recreationally and/or commercially important
species include fall-run Chinook salmon (a federal
species of concern), steelhead (federally listed as
a threatened species under ESA), and nonnative
striped bass and American shad. Auburn Ravine
in Placer County is also a critical habitat area for
Chinook salmon (both spring- and fall-run) and
steelhead. Wildlife frequently spotted along the
river include great blue heron, egret, mallards and
other waterfowl, western rattlesnake, gray squirrel,
river otter, beaver, turkey, mule deer, coyote, and
mountain lion.
ive
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ric
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Sacramento
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Roseville
Fish and Wildlife
R
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Vegetation in the Lower
American River Watershed
North American River Otter2
Nimbus Fish Hatchery: steelhead troughs1
American Shad
Nimbus Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery
At one time, Chinook salmon and
steelhead had access to 125 miles
of habitat in the upper reaches of
the American River for spawning
and rearing. When the FolsomNimbus project was completed
in 1958, about 70 percent of the
spawning habitat historically
used by Chinook salmon and 100
percent of the spawning habitat
historically used by steelhead
were cut off. As a result, Nimbus
Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery
was constructed to replace the
salmon and steelhead runs that
were blocked by Nimbus and
PAGE 154
Folsom Dams. The fish weir and
ladder now direct these fish to
the Nimbus Fish Hatchery.
Sorting and spawning area
Top of fish ladder
Nimbus fish weir
Today, a fish rack stops the
upstream migration of fish because
of the limited spawning area
between this spot and Nimbus Dam.
The rack also guides fish to the
ladder entrance.
Salmon and steelhead jump over
twenty steps to the top of the fish
ladder. From here, they swim into
the holding pond through a v-shaped
weir that allows passage into the
pond but not out.
Fish are sorted and spawned on a table in
the spawning building at the south end of
the holding pond. In the case of salmon,
fish ready for spawning are killed. Eggs
are more easily and quickly taken when
the body cavity is opened by an incision.
(All Pacific salmon die after spawning, so
killing the fish is not wasteful.)
Hatchery information and photos courtesy of DFG.
AMERICAN RIVER SUBREGION: Lower American River Watershed
Dry
Water
Snow & Ice
Urban
a
Rive
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Be
v er
Camp
Far West
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R i ve r
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B ear
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Barren
Am
Deciduous Forest
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Evergreen Forest
Shrubland
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Fe a
Wetland
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Pleasant G
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e nt o
Folsom
Lake
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Folsom
Lake Natoma
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Trail at Effie Yeaw Nature Center
e Fo
Cropland
S a c ram
Habitat in the American River Basin was historically
a large wetland area. Today the floodplain is
principally rice fields in the north and central areas,
with the metropolitan area of Sacramento to the
south. Above the floodplain the creeks pass through
the rolling hills of Placer County, and cities of
Lincoln, Roseville, and Rocklin. This area is a mixture
of agricultural lands, grasslands, oak woodlands,
and urban development.
id d l
Auburn
Pasture
Vegetation
Habitat in the Lower American River Watershed
represents both natural and altered landscapes.
After the discovery of gold, portions of the river
were dredged by the gold mining companies,
leaving behind large piles of cobble and excavated
areas. The slow process of natural reclamation
has returned some areas to a seminatural state,
while the most severely altered areas can still be
seen today. The banks of the river channel provide
riparian habitat—both scrub and forest consisting
of cottonwood, valley oak, and willow, with
occasional white alder, box elder, and Oregon ash.
Understory species include wild grape, wild rose,
blackberry, and elderberry. Emergent marsh habitat
is found in still or slow-moving shallow water
located on the edges of the river and on the banks
of open water areas. These marshes are dominated
by aquatic vegetation such as cattail, tule, soft
rush, and blue vervain. Habitat above the riverbed
consists of oak woodlands (valley and interior live
oak) and grasslands (largely nonnative, but some
native filaree, wild geranium, mustard, wild radish,
California poppy, larkspur, and yarrow). The area
outside of the American River Parkway is highly
urbanized.
rth
on
Grassland
Tule Oak1
No
C r.
k
Fo r
Rancho
Cordova
Sacramento
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Land use in the Lower American River Watershed
5
Life in the Watershed
The Lower American River headwaters are located
in the town of Folsom (population 72,590) and flow
westward through the communities of Orangevale,
Fair Oaks, Carmichael, and into the city of
Sacramento (population 486,289). The watershed is
highly urbanized and relies on a network of levees
to protect the area from flooding.
Bordering both sides of the Lower American River
is the American River Parkway Trail, a 30-mile paved
bicycle and trail network that provides a greenbelt
area from Nimbus Dam to the confluence of the
Sacramento River. Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma
also provide a plethora of recreation opportunities.
The Effie Yeaw Nature Center, an environmental and
cultural education center, is located along with the
American River Parkway. The area is rich in history
and culture from Native American artifacts, early
European settlements, to gold rush era reminders.
Major employers in the watershed include Intel
in Folsom and hospitals, state government,
Sacramento Municipal Utility District and California
State University, Sacramento.
Bicycling on an Autumn day on the American River Parkway2
PAGE 155
AMERICAN RIVER SUBREGION: Lower American River Watershed
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Land Trust
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Auburn
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City, Co. or Reg. Park
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Camp
Far West
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Fe a
Trail on the American River Parkway
Pleasant G
rove
Management Objectives
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Roseville
An IRWM Plan for the Lower American, Lower
Sacramento, and Lower Consumnes Rivers was
completed in June 2006. Management objectives
from the plan are summarized as:
e nt o
»»
enhance drinking water supply availability and
Folsom
Lake
5
reliability;
develop strategies to ensure 200-year flood
»»
Folsom
Riv
Lake Natoma
50
er
protection through a collaborative, watershedwide approach;
minimize impacts from stormwater discharges
»»
Rancho
Cordova
Sacramento
80
to receiving water quality in sensitive
river systems using BMPs and watershed
management activities;
improve groundwater management;
»»
»»
lead a region-wide effort to preserve the
environmental health and well-being of the
region by identifying opportunities to restore
and enhance the natural resources of streams
and watersheds; and
5
Land ownership in the Lower American River Watershed
»»
identify potential opportunities for expanding
recycled water use in urban and agricultural
areas and industrial applications.
Management Organizations
Active in the Watershed
The Lower American River has 21 governmental
agencies responsible for managing natural
resources, land use, recreation, water supply, and
flood control in the river corridor. In addition to
government agencies, the following organizations
are also active in addressing local watershed issues.
Regional Water Authority
The Regional Water Authority is a joint powers
authority formed as a policy forum to serve and
represent the regional water supply interests and
to assist members in protecting and enhancing
the reliability, availability, affordability, and quality
of water resources. One of the principal missions
of the Regional Water Authority is facilitating
implementation of the conjunctive use program
prescribed by the Water Forum Agreement
north of the American River. The Regional Water
Authority has 19 members and three associate
members, encompassing water users from
Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo Counties.
The Regional Water Authority is leading the effort
to update the existing American River Basin
IRWM Plan.
Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
SAFCA was formed in 1989 to address the
Sacramento area’s vulnerability to catastrophic
flooding. This vulnerability was exposed during
the record flood of 1986 when Folsom Dam
exceeded its normal flood control storage capacity
and several area levees nearly collapsed under
the strain of the storm. In response, the City of
Sacramento, the County of Sacramento, the County
PAGE 156
Bridge on the Lower American
of Sutter, the American River Flood Control District,
and Reclamation District 1000 created SAFCA
through a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement to
provide the Sacramento region with increased flood
protection along the American and Sacramento
Rivers. SAFCA is an active participant in the
American River Basin IRWM Plan.
American River Parkway Foundation
The mission of the American River Parkway
Foundation is to foster environmental stewardship,
facilitate volunteer opportunities, and fund projects
and programs on the American River Parkway that
support the preservation, protection, enhancement,
and appreciation of the parkway natural resources.
American Basin Council of Watersheds
In 2005, three separate organizations with interests
in the watersheds of western Placer County—Dry
Creek Watershed Council, Auburn Ravine/Coon
Creek Watershed Group, and Pleasant Grove/Curry
Creek Watershed Group—folded their activities
into the American Basin Council of Watersheds.
The Council is participating in both the CABY and
American River Basin IRWM planning processes.
Water Forum
The Water Forum been working cooperatively in the
last ten years with local, state and federal agencies
to enhance the and restore habitat in the lower
American River.