| American River | |
|---|---|
 The American River atFolsom | |
 Map of theAmerican River watershed. It includes the North, Middle, and South forks of the river as well asRubicon River, a tributary of the Middle Fork. | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Sacramento Valley |
| City | Sacramento |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | North Fork American River |
| • location | Mountain Meadow Lake,Placer County, CA |
| • coordinates | 39°13′04″N120°16′28″W / 39.21778°N 120.27444°W /39.21778; -120.27444[1] |
| • elevation | 7,923 ft (2,415 m)[2] |
| 2nd source | South Fork American River |
| • location | Nebelhorn,El Dorado County |
| • coordinates | 38°48′38″N120°01′52″W / 38.81056°N 120.03111°W /38.81056; -120.03111[3] |
| • elevation | 7,401 ft (2,256 m)[4] |
| Source confluence | Folsom Lake |
| • location | NearFolsom, California |
| • coordinates | 38°29′28″N121°09′24″W / 38.49111°N 121.15667°W /38.49111; -121.15667[5] |
| • elevation | 253 ft (77 m) |
| Mouth | Sacramento River |
• location | Sacramento, CA |
• coordinates | 38°35′51″N121°30′29″W / 38.59750°N 121.50806°W /38.59750; -121.50806[5] |
• elevation | 10 ft (3.0 m)[5] |
| Length | 119 mi (192 km), Northeast-southwestMain stem 31 miles (50 km); North Fork 88 miles (142 km)[6] |
| Basin size | 2,150 sq mi (5,600 km2)[7] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Fair Oaks[8] |
| • average | 3,685 cu ft/s (104.3 m3/s)[8] |
| • minimum | 215 cu ft/s (6.1 m3/s)[8] |
| • maximum | 314,000 cu ft/s (8,900 m3/s)[8] |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Sacramento River watershed |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | South Fork American River |
| • right | North Fork American River |
| Type | Wild, Recreational |
| Designated | November 10, 1978 |
TheAmerican River is a 30-mile-long (50 km)river inCalifornia that runs from theSierra Nevada mountain range to its confluence with theSacramento River in downtownSacramento. Via the Sacramento River, it is part of theSan Francisco Bay watershed. This river is fed by the melting snowpack of the Sierra Nevada and its many headwaters and tributaries, including itsNorth,Middle, andSouth Forks.
The American River is known for the discovery of gold atSutter's Mill inColoma in 1848 that started theCalifornia Gold Rush and contributed to the initial large-scale settlement of California by white American migrants. Today, the river still has high quality water, and it is the main source of drinking water forSacramento.[9] This river is dammed extensively for irrigation,flood control, andhydroelectric power. The American River watershed supports Mediterranean, temperate, and montane ecosystems, and it is the home of a diverse array of fish and wildlife.
TheMaidu,Miwok,Nisenan, andWintun peoples have inhabited the American River area near present-day Sacramento for at least 5,000 years beforeSpaniards and colonialAmericans arrived in the region; human habitation in present-day Northern California is believed to date back as far as 12,000 years. These tribes have utilized the vast amount of resources of the American River for shelter, clothes, baskets, and other goods. Europeans and their descendants arrived in the late 18th century.[10] TheNisenan call the riverKum Sayo, meaning 'roundhouse river'.[11]
Spanish explorerGabriel Moraga named the riverRio de las Llagas (River of Wounds) when he passed through the area in the early 1800s, perhaps due to hostile relations with local native peoples. Another member of the expedition recorded the name asRio de los Lagos (River of the Lakes) which may or may not have been an error, as in those times the area of the Central Valley surrounding the American River was home to vastmarshes, which would have given the river the appearance of a series of lakes.[12]
During the 1820s,Jedediah Smith led an expedition to the American River with the goal of finding a safe route for colonizers across the Sierra Nevada. After a failed attempt to cross the mountains via the South Fork of the American River, Smith's group managed to cross viaEbbetts Pass on the headwaters of theStanislaus River, becoming the first non-Natives to do so. In Smith's honor the Spanish settlers named the riverRio de los Americanos (American River). During this time,Alta California was part ofNew Spain; however in 1822, Mexico gained its independence from Spain and took control of California.
In the 1830s, fur trappers of theHudson's Bay Company (HBC) visited the area to trap beaver and otter. During one of these expeditions, smallpox or malaria were accidentally introduced to the local Native peoples, who had no immunity to European diseases. Some accounts suggest as much as 70 percent of the indigenous population was wiped out. The surviving natives became hostile to exploitative European settlers and traders for quite some time, and prevented the HBC from establishing a permanent outpost here.
In 1839, Swiss immigrantJohn Sutter established theNew Helvetia settlement on the American River, near the present-day location of central Sacramento. In 1848, following theMexican–American War, California was ceded to the United States in theTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.[10] Just weeks later,James W. Marshall, an employee of Sutter, discovered gold on the South Fork, starting theCalifornia Gold Rush.[13]
Although miners looking to extract gold worked all three forks of the American River, the South Fork held the richest deposits. As the easily accessibleplacer gold was played out, large companies usedhydraulic mining to access gold buried deeper in the soil. This large and extensive mining practice washed away entire mountainsides and heavily polluted all the waterways, including the American River, creating an environmental disaster for inhabitants, fish, birds, and other flora and fauna.[14]
During theGreat Flood of 1862 the American River flooded massively, putting much of Sacramento under water for three months. Newly elected GovernorLeland Stanford had to travel to his inauguration by rowboat; shortly after, the state government moved temporarily to San Francisco. A significant contributor to the flood damage was the debris washed down by hydraulic mining, which had choked the river channel and reduced its capacity to drain floodwaters. In response, the city of Sacramento undertook a massive project to raise its streets and buildings as much as 9.5 feet (2.9 m). Many of original sidewalks and the first floors of buildings remain as subterranean spaces underneath today's streets.[15]
The lower American River has been one of seven California rivers to achieve the designation "Recreational River" under both theCalifornia Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1972) and theNational Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1980). This status provides state and national recognition to protect the river's outstanding scenic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, and recreational values.[16]
The American River is fed by its North, Middle, and South forks, which are located inEl Dorado County,Placer County, andSacramento County. The river's three forks originate in theTahoe andEldorado National Forests.[17] The North and Middle Forks join nearAuburn, and continue downstream as the North Fork, although the Middle Fork carries a higher volume of water. The North and South Forks join inFolsom Lake. All three forks are known for their verdant canyons, forested ridges, massive rock formations, trails, back-country winter adventuring among snowy peaks, fishing andwhite water rafting. There are various fish species that live within the American River such as Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout.[18]
The American River headwaters lie along about 50 miles (80 km) along the Sierra Crest from Mount Lincoln in the north (39°17′16″N120°19′41″W / 39.28778°N 120.32806°W /39.28778; -120.32806) where it adjoins the watersheds of theSouth Yuba andTruckee Rivers, to Winnemucca Lake in theMokelumne Wilderness, where it meets the watersheds of theMokelumne andCarson Rivers. Lands east of the American River watershed divide drain intoLake Tahoe, which flows into the Truckee River. During most years, a significant snow-pack builds up in the Sierra Nevada which provides water during the hot, dry summers. In warmer winters much of the precipitation may fall as rain instead, causing flooding, but resulting in lower summer flows due to the lack of snow. Due to California's highly variable weather patterns, runoff volumes in the American River can rise and fall drastically from one year to the next.
BelowFolsom Dam, the river passes through an urbanized area but is buffered by a riparian park, theAmerican River Parkway. Containing fishing and family-oriented rafting, and paved bicycling and multi-use trails, it runs 30.6 miles (49.2 km)[6] from Folsom Lake to the river's confluence with the Sacramento River. The American River Parkway incorporates historicLeidesdorff Ranch, a 35,000-acre (140 km2) cattle and wheat agribusiness owned by the "African Founding Father of California."Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, a meandering 32-mile (51 km) cycle path, hugs the river bank fromOld Sacramento toFolsom Lake. The trail was named forSmith and his men, who camped and trapped along its banks in 1828.[19]
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TheNorth Fork is the longest tributary of the American River, at 88 miles (142 km).[6] It begins at an elevation of about 7,900 feet (2,400 m) nearLake Tahoe in Placer County at Mountain Meadow Lake, just northeast ofGranite Chief and immediately due west ofPalisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) Ski Resort. It flows westward through remote wilderness areas.
The North Fork and its tributaries provides one of the most biologically diverse habitats in North America.[citation needed] The North Fork features scenic multi-use trails along forested ridge-tops andriparian corridors. It flows freely as a designatedNational Wild and Scenic Rivers System river until reaching the North Fork Dam, which was built to contain mining debris. This dam creates the small Lake Clementine just north of theForesthill Bridge and upstream of theconfluence with the Middle Fork American River atAuburn. Below the confluence, the North Fork continues several miles until reaching Folsom Lake. Both the North Fork and Middle Fork featurearchaeological andhistoric sites of ancientNative American culture and 1850s Gold Rush habitation.
TheMiddle Fork is 62 miles (100 km) long.[6] It originates a mere 1.7-mile (2.7 km) from the source of the North Fork on the south face ofGranite Chief, between the summit and Emigrant Pass. It is characterized by somewhat broader steep canyons interspersed withreservoirs, waterfalls, and quietriparian areas. The Middle Fork is used extensively for both motorized and non-motorized recreation, including fishing,white water rafting, bicycling (mountain and road), horseback riding, trail running and hiking. It contains areas used forhydroelectric generation,mining, and agricultural timber cultivation and harvesting. The Middle Fork features part of theAuburn State Recreation Area. The Western States Trail hosts multiple annual endurance events, including theTevis Cup equestrian trail ride, and the world-famous Western States 100-Mile Trail Run, both beginning atSquaw Valley and leading toAuburn via remote wilderness trails.
TheSouth Fork is 87 miles (140 km) long.[6] It originates at Echo Summit nearEcho Lake south of Lake Tahoe inEl Dorado County, just south of whereU.S. Route 50 makes a sharp curve northward to descend into Tahoe Valley. The South Fork has multi-use recreational areas, including the Rubicon Trail for motorized adventuring and whitewater rafting venues. The South Fork also features the historic town ofColoma, where theCalifornia Gold Rush began in 1848. Trout fishing and recreationalgold panning are popular activities on the South Fork.
TheSilver Fork American River is a 20-mile-long (32 km)[6] tributary of the South Fork American River, that has its origin at Silver Lake[20]
The American River watershed crosses multiple climate zones due to the large range in elevations. The climate of the lower American River valley isMediterranean andtemperate grassland.Sacramento County in particular, where the main stem American River is located, is known for its cool winters and hot summers, with low average precipitation.[21] The North, Middle and South Forks originate in alpine zones along the Sierra Crest and flow through subalpine, montane and temperate coniferous forests. In the foothills,oak woodland andgrassland are dominant.[22]
The region is prone to seasonal drought conditions, as about 90 percent of precipitation falls as rain and snow between the months of November and April. Much of the Central Valley was historically wetlands and has extremely fertile soil; today, the vast majority of wetlands have been converted to agriculture or urban areas. Most of the remaining wetland, riparian and aquatic ecosystems are restricted to the narrow corridor along the American River.
There is an abundance of flora and fauna found at the American River that creates an immenselybiodiverse ecosystem. Native plants along the American River Parkway are adapted to a Mediterranean climate, are drought tolerant, and help support a balanced, healthy ecosystem. Non-native, and sometimes invasive, species have been introduced to the American River ecosystem. These exotic species have no natural predators and combat with native species for sun, space, and nutrients, causing substantial problems for the native plant life and the entire bionetwork. The American River Parkway Foundation, in collaboration with Sacramento County Parks, manages the invasive plants on the American River.
Fourteen environmentalwatershed groups are shown to be active in the Upper American River Watershed by the Adopt A Watershed Program of theU.S. EPA.[23] The Upper American River Foundation is a prominent one.[24][independent source needed]
There are over 40 species of native and non-native fish in the American River, including:[21]
Wildlife in the American River basin includes:
Invasive plants on the American River include:[27]
Native plants include:[28]
Historically, the American River, like many other rivers in California, were modified by the dams of beavers, until European trappers removed many of the beavers from their native habitat for their fur. Since theCalifornia Gold Rush was centered in an area that included the American River basin, it was one of the earlier California rivers to be populated, beginning at Leidesdorff Ranch, owned byWilliam Leidesdorff. Water was used to drivegrist mills. Gold miners dredged the riverbed and constructeddiversion dams forhydraulic mining. Mining activity caused sediment and mercury waste to accumulate in the rivers. The Natoma Company completed itsFolsom Powerhouse in 1895 and began delivering power 22 miles (35 km) away to the city of Sacramento to power a streetcar system.
Major flooding of the Sacramento area led to calls for a large dam on the American River by the late 19th century. During the 20th century, the American River was extensively developed for flood control,hydroelectricity production and irrigation.Folsom Dam is the primary flood-control facility for Sacramento. The numerous hydroelectric dams upstream on the Middle and South Forks are not constrained by flood control requirements; rather, the needs of electricity and water supply govern their operation.
Folsom Dam was built in 1955 as a principal part of theCentral Valley Project by the Army Corps of Engineers, and is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The concrete and earth embankment structure is more than 5 miles (8.0 km) long and createsFolsom Lake, impounding 1.1 million acre-feet (1.4 km3) of water when full.[29] The dam is a multipurpose facility that acts as a reservoir for flood control, irrigation, domestic and industrial use, as well as hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.[30] Nimbus Dam is 7 miles (11 km) downstream from Folsom Dam and helps to stabilizepeaking power releases from Folsom Dam, and divert water into theFolsom South Canal for irrigation.[31]
Eight hydroelectric plants on the South Fork are operated bySacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) as theUpper American River Project. These plants are fed by a series of reservoirs includingLoon Lake,Ice House Reservoir andUnion Valley Reservoir. With the exception of Folsom Lake, Union Valley is the largest in the American River watershed, storing 277,000 acre-feet (0.342 km3) of water. The Upper American River Project produces 1.8 billionkilowatt hours in an average year, enough for about 20 percent of Sacramento's electricity needs. The SMUD plants are run on apeaking basis, although recreational boating and environmental flow requirements constrain their operation slightly.
A number ofrun-of-the-river hydroelectric plants are located further downstream on the South Fork. While they are not operated by SMUD, they depend on the releases from SMUD reservoirs to generate electricity. The El Dorado Irrigation District owns the Akin Powerhouse, andPG&E owns the Chili Bar Powerhouse. The Rock Creek Powerhouse is owned by Sithe Energies.
The Placer County Water Agency operates five hydroelectric power plants on remote sections of the Middle Fork as theMiddle Fork Project, whose primary reservoirs are situated atFrench Meadows Reservoir andHell Hole Reservoir. The Middle Fork Project generates 1.03 billion kilowatt hours each year and also provides 120,000 acre-feet (0.15 km3) of domestic water supply.[32]
TheAmerican River Parkway is a 23-mile (37 km) stretch along the American River and includes about 5,000 acres (20 km2) of embankment between theNimbus Fish Hatchery and where the American River and the Sacramento River converge. The Sacramento County Regional Parks owns most of the land that is operated by the American River Parkway. This area serves the citizens of Sacramento and visitors from away with access to the river and parks, picnic areas, biking and jogging paths, trails for hiking, and habitat for fish and wildlife.[33]
Chinook salmon are a threatenedanadromous fish species that have historically used the American River as a location for an important part of their life cycle while in freshwater. The American River, however, has lost some of its natural flow and riverbed because of water projects and diversions. The American River Salmonid Spawning and Rearing Habitat Restoration project, which started in 2008, entails the placement of gravel to provide adequate habitat conducive to the salmonid's needs for spawning and rearing to reach a maturity level fit for the ocean. From 2008 to 2012, the placement totaled 85,880 short tons (77.91 kt) of gravel. The gravel will increase the number of fish redds, spawning nests, along the American River, which will decrease egg retention, and increase birth and survivorship rate. The project also included the introduction of small islands, loose woody debris, and larger boulders to advance the rearing habitat for the anadromous fish and increase biodiversity of the American River.[34][35][36]
The American River Conservancy works to conserve the wildlife and their aquatic and terrestrial habitats and resources around the American River andCosumnes River watersheds. They have protected over 27,000 acres (110 km2) since their inception in 1989. The land they protect helps the American River water quality by conserving and restoringwet meadows, wetlands, and riparian areas. They conserve the diversity of habitats and biodiversity by supporting protected native or endemic species that are listed as endangered or threatened. The American River Conservancy protects the American River watershed to preserve the cultural and historic values of the river systems and the landscapes surround them. They are also invested in keeping the American River for recreational activities as well as its natural scenic views.[37]
In 2000, the Water Forum, a diverse group of business and agricultural leaders, citizen groups, environmentalists, water managers, and local governments working together to balance coequal objectives of providing a reliable and safe water, was formed through the landmark Water Forum Agreement, a long-term plan created to balance two coequal objectives: 1) Provide a reliable and safe water supply for region's economic health and planned development through 2030; and 2) Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the Lower American River.[38] The Water Forum actively works to enhance habitat for salmon and steelhead in the Lower American River in partnership with federal, state and local agencies.[39]
The American River is utilized for a variety of recreational uses. Locals and travelers alike use the river's scenic landscape for bird watching, hiking, biking, fishing, river rafting, kayaking, and more. The American River is a clean, biodiverse river that people can safely swim in and do other recreational activities in.
The American River is specifically known for its whitewater rafting. The South Fork has Class III rapids, the Middle Fork has Class IV rapids, and the North Fork has Class IV spring run-off rapids.[40] All three rivers also feature Class II sections. The areas with rapids still feature scenic views and wildlife, which is what makes it the most popular whitewater rafting location in California[40]
TheCalifornia Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has issued safe eatingadvice based on levels of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyl for fish caught from the section of the river that flows through Sacramento County.[41]
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