Wednesday January 8, 2025
KRCR —
Board Members Jason Thatcher for the Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association says the board has noticed an increase of sediment in the Sacramento River by the Keswick Dam area.
Thatcher said the increase in sediment is due to the Bureau of Reclamation’s gravel augmentation programs. The gravel augmentation projects are meant to reverse damage to spawning nearby habitats in the river originally caused by dam operations.
Thatcher said that he understands the benefit of habitat restoration projects. However, in the Keswick dam scenario, the area was left unfinished, which he says is even worse for the environment. There appears to be spilled oil and fuel that will runoff into the rivers, as well as many tires.
“Right here is some of the best spawning habitat on the entire river,” Thatcher said. “The fact that that’s being polluted by Reclamation’s Project when they’re supposed to be the stewards of this river, I have a hard time with that.”