Fisheries research, monitoring, and conservation
CVBT
August 27, 2012
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to dump approximately 14,000 tons of gravel into the lower American River to help improve spawning grounds for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon.
To be targeted are existing spawning habitat that consists of large rocks and fine sediment that reduces the ability for fish to construct nests and may reduce the number of eggs surviving and emerging as juvenile fish.
The first load of gravel is scheduled to be deposited in the lower American River on Monday, Sept. 10. All work is expected to be completed by Friday, Sept. 30. All work will be within the confines of the Sailor Bar Recreation Area, near Hazel Avenue and Winding Way in Fair Oaks.
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 one mile downstream of the Hazel Avenue Bridge in the American River. Front-end loaders and bulldozers will be used to distribute the spawning gravel in the river.
