Proposed erosion protection measures impact to trees and habitat along the Lower American River

Save the American River Association is working with American River Trees (ART) to oppose the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)/Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA)/Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB) levee work on portions of the Lower American River as proposed in the draft SEIS/SEIR. Many have seen the erosion protection measures at Paradise Beach, Campus Commons Golf Course, H Street Bridge, and Sac State/Howe. These huge engineering projects resulted in almost total removal of trees and vegetation from the Lower American River and Parkway.

The upcoming Contract 3B envisions similar devastating impacts to areas of the River and Parkway between Howe Avenue bridge and Watt Avenue bridge, continuing a mile upstream of the Watt Avenue bridge to the vicinity of Mayhew/Rio Bravo Circle on the River's south bank, and Estates Drive on the north bank. The work includes access ramps behind Rio Bravo and an equipment staging area in Larchmont Community Park.

See letter from American River Trees to USACE Sacramento District Colonel Chad Caldwell requesting a meeting (March 21, 2024)

See excerpt from Sacramento County Supervisor, Rich Desmond's newsletter (February 12, 2024) - Watch for information on a public meeting.

See latest update from American River Trees (February 9, 2024): Join the community roundtable, letter writing event, and more.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Parkway advocates and concerned citizens are mobilizing to question the efficacy of these massive erosion protection measures in the areas of the River and Parkway identified in Contract 3B.

You can support this effort in the following ways:

1) Contact the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency Board and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and insist that the Army Corps of Engineers hold an in-person public meeting. As the Corps' local partners, SAFCA and the CVFPB hold the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the project's impacts on Sacramento's "crown jewel," our River and Parkway, are thoroughly explained and justified to the satisfaction of the Sacramento community and the people of the State of California.

2) Visit americanrivertrees.org for more information on impacts to the Lower American River (Howe to Larchmont).