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.

In August 2025, SARA, ART, and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service (NPS), and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB) claiming CEQA, NEPA, and federal and state Wild and Scenic Rivers Act violations for the proposed American River Common Features Project, Contracts 3B and 4B. In November 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted ART’s request for a Preliminary Injunction to enjoin any ground or vegetation disturbing activity on the American River Parkway authorized under Contract 3B until the Court reaches a final decision on our case. This means that tree clearing and other vegetation removal cannot occur until our lawsuit is resolved on its merits by the Court.

Because the CVFPB was unwilling to consent to our state law claims being heard in federal court (based on state "sovereign immunity" under which state entities can avoid federal court), we have filed against the CVFPB in state court asserting violations of the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The parties are conferring regarding the administrative record. No timetable has yet been established for briefing and arguing the merits of this case.

As of June 10, 2026, all briefs have been filed with the Eastern District Court for our lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service claiming National Environmental Policy Act and federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act violations for the proposed American River Common Features Project.

The federal case is now in the hands of the Judge. The preliminary injunction is still in place. The injunction prevents the Corps and its contractors from conducting any ground disturbing activities until our case is resolved on its merits. Remember, American River Trees, ART, is joined in this lawsuit by the Save the American River Association, SARA, and the Center for Biological Diversity, CBD.

The Judge could request additional briefing, schedule a hearing to hear oral argument, or issue a decision based on the Administrative Record and the submitted briefs. 

On the state side, ART, SARA and the CBD filed a lawsuit against the Central Valley Flood Protection Board asserting violations of the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act on March 26, 2026. This is a separate case, filed in State Court. At this time, the parties are conferring regarding the administrative record and so we do not have a timetable for resolution of our claim.

Our goal is to minimize destruction to the American River Parkway under Contracts 3B and 4B, while keeping the banks and levees of the American River protected from erosion, thereby keeping Sacramento safe from flooding.

Project overview: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District - American River Levees 

Download an informational flyer by American River Trees [PDF]

See “Protecting Sacramento and the American River Parkway” a presentation by American River Trees to the Renaissance Society (February 21, 2025)

UPDATES

USACE has notified the public that they may start vegetation clearing in the Fall of 2025, Spring 2026 (September 27, 2024)

See the recording of the April 8, 2024, community meeting hosted by the Office of Congressman Ami Bera
See American River Trees' response to the community meeting (April 20, 2024)

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) 

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) Visit the American River Trees (ART) Web site. 
Go to americanrivertrees.org to learn about the potential impacts to the Lower American River (Howe to Larchmont) and how you can help.

2) Sign the petition. 
Insist that the US Army Corps of Engineers work with local, state and federal officials and the public, to reassess these proposals and methods, and achieve a balance for flood protection that does not destroy hundreds of trees, and degrade the wild and scenic river for generations. We are asking for: A pause to the project, increased community engagement, and alternative designs!

3) Make a donation. 
Your donation to American River Trees (ART) supports our efforts to preserve the Wild and Scenic Lower American River and Parkway trees and wildlife habitat corridor.

4) Watch the SARA and ART websites for next steps. 
What we do next will depend upon the Court’s ruling.

IN THE NEWS

The American River Parkway Needs Our Help
College Glen Neighborhood Newsletter
April 2024

Taming the American River means losing some trees. We caused this by living here | Opinion
The Sacramento Bee
April 17, 2024

Concerns grow over tree clearing along American River for flood infrastructure plan 
ABC10
January 16, 2024