Since 2010, cbec has helped the Water Forum design and implement the Lower American River Salmonid Gravel Augmentation and Side-Channel Habitat Establishment Program. The program addresses habitat reduction and fisheries decline in the Lower American River and fosters the design and installation of one instream habitat enhancement project per year. Construction is nearly complete at the newest site at Sailor Bar, so keep an eye out for more content in the coming weeks. In the meantime, enjoy these picturesque shots from the project site in Fair Oaks, CA.
This photo was snapped just downstream of the Nimbus Dam and Fish Hatchery (left) atop of a staged pile of spawning gravel during construction. These rocks will be graded into the main river to create two separate channel spanning riffles to be used by fall run Chinook Salmon and Steelhead trout to build their redd.
The cbec team providing design observation during construction, rain or shine! The mouth of the newly constructed side channel is shown on the right.