Lower American River State of the River Report Water Forum 660 J Street, Suite 260 Sacramento, CA 95814 1 April 2005 Lower American River The Water Forum is a diverse group of business and agricultural leaders, citizens groups, environmentalists, water managers, and local governments in the Sacramento Region that have joined to fulfill two co-equal objectives: • Provide a reliable and safe water supply for the region’s economic health and planned development to the year 2030; and • Preserve the fishery, wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic values of the lower American River. In 2000, Water Forum members approved a comprehensive Water Forum Agreement, consisting of integrated actions necessary to provide a regional solution to potential water shortages, environmental degradation, groundwater contamination, threats to groundwater reliability, and limits to economic prosperity. The Water Forum Agreement allows the region to meet its needs in a balanced way through implementation of seven elements. The seven elements of the Water Forum Agreement are: 1) increased surface water diversions, 2) actions to meet customers’ needs while reducing diversion impacts in drier years, 3) an improved pattern of fishery flow releases from Folsom Reservoir, 4) lower American River Habitat Management Element, 5) water conservation, 6) groundwater management, and 7) the Water Forum Successor Effort (WFSE). The WFSE was created to implement the seven elements of the Water Forum Agreement over the next 30 years. Additional information can be found on the Water Forum’s web site at: www.waterforum.org. Water Forum 660 J Street, Suite 260 Sacramento, CA 95814 April 2005 2 Lower American River State of the River Report 3 Letter to Readers Dear Reader, This is the first lower American River State of the River Report. The purpose of this report is to review the health of the lower American River ecosystem as of 2004. It is meant to be an easy-to-read overview, and will be of use to anyone who is interested in learning more about and protecting the lower American River. This report summarizes information developed to support the Fisheries and In-Stream Habitat Management and Restoration Plan for the Lower American River (FISH Plan) as well as other reports and actions about the lower American River ecosystem. A complete list of information sources is at the end of this report. The lower American River and the land adjacent to the river (much which is encompassed by the American River Parkway) are tremendous resources, managed by a number of different agencies and organizations, for a variety of purposes. In the last decade especially, we have learned that to protect these resources it is critical that those who have an interest in the lower American River come together to share information, work with resource managers, and creatively partner to plan, fund, and implement projects that benefit the lower American River. For this report, we decided to focus on the following elements of river management and consider “how are we doing?” in five areas: • Managing the lower American River to protect fish and river habitat • Maintaining and/or improving habitats adjacent to the lower American River • Meeting water quality goals and achieving regulatory standards for the lower American River • Implementing lower American River levee stabilization and erosion control measures • Communicating among lower American River stakeholders to inform and improve current and future management As you will see when you read this document, many actions and projects have been put in place that benefit the lower American River and its resources. You will also note that much still needs to be accomplished. It is important that stakeholders continue to work together to make informed decisions, improve dialogue, and implement actions to maintain or enhance the lower American River. The Water Forum plans to provide a lower American River State of the River Report every five years. We hope that this report informs you, inspires you, and encourages you to enjoy and protect the lower American River. Regards, Leo Winternitz Executive Director Water Forum 2 Lower American River State of the River Report 3 Table of Contents About the Water Forum..........................................................................................................................................................................................2 Letter to Readers.........................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................................................................................4 List of Figures..................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 List of Tables.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations..................................................................................................................................................................5 Summary of Key Findings.........................................................................................................................................................................................6 1. A Resource of Local, Regional, and Statewide Importance..........................................................................................................10 2. Key Findings — The State of the lower American River................................................................................................................20 Managing the lower American River to protect fish and river habitat................................................................... 20 Maintaining and/or improving habitat areas adjacent to the river.............................................................................37 Communicating among lower American River stakeholders.......................................................................................51 Appendix 1 — River Corridor Management Plan Endorsements................................................................................................53 Appendix 2 — River Corridor Management Plan Accomplishments as of 2004................................................................ 54 Appendix 3 — OEHHA Fish Consumptions Guidelines...................................................................................................................56 Information Sources for the State of the River Report ......................................................................................................................57 Photo Credits ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................58 Acknowledgments Editors Brian Deason and David Robinson, U.S. Bureau of Catherine McCracken, Center for Collaborative Policy Reclamation Leo Winternitz and Sarah Foley, Water Forum Rod Hall, Water Forum Consultant Teresa Haenggi and Amy van Riessen, City of Design Sacramento/Parks & Recreation Department Blue Cat Studio Andrew Hamilton and Nick Hindman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gary Kukkola, County of Sacramento/Department of The Water Forum thanks the following individuals Regional Parks, Recreation, & Open Space who reviewed this report or portions of this report Mike Laing, Northern California Council — Federation of as a “work in progress” and provided numerous Fly Fishers helpful suggestions and comments: Catherine Doyle McCracken — Artist Paul Olmstead, Sacramento Municipal Utility District John Baker, NOAA Fisheries Jim Ray, Water Forum Business Caucus Paul Bartkiewicz, Bartkiewicz, Kronick &Shanahan Felix Smith, Save the American River Association, Inc. Rick Bettis, Water Forum Environmental Caucus Jack Sohl, Save the American River Association, Inc. Paul Bratovich, Brian Ellrott, and Janice Pinero, Surface Rob Titus, California Department of Fish and Game Water Resources, Inc. Frank Wallace, California Native Plant Society David Brent and Mel Johnson, City of Sacramento/ Sunny Williams, County of Sacramento/Department of Utilities Department Planning & Community Development Randall Brown, Water Forum Consultant Ed Winkler, Regional Water Authority Bill Crooks, City of Sacramento Consultant Lois Wright, American River Parkway Foundation Peter Buck, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency Bob Caikoski. County of Sacramento/Department of Published April 2005 Environmental Review & Assessment 4 Lower American River State of the River Report 5 List of Figures Figure 1 The American River Watershed Figure 7 Total Number of Steelhead Entering Figure 2 The lower American River Nimbus Hatchery from 1955 – 2002 Figure 3 Significant Events in the History of the Figure 8 Schematic Diagram of Folsom lower American River Coldwater Pool Figure 4 Fall-Run Chinook Salmon Life Cycle Figure 9 Lower American River Flow Averages Figure 5 Fall-Run Chinook Salmon Escapement and Existing D-893 Requirements Estimates