On January 10, 2006, our organization made the decision to support the construction of a major new dam on the American River, including any of its forks, to protect the integrity of the Parkway for the year-round use of the citizens of the Sacramento region, and to provide optimal conditions for the habitat and wildlife of the Parkway.
The key aspect of protecting the integrity of the Parkway is maintaining river flows and temperature in the optimal range for protection of the recreational experience and the health of the salmon. Flood condition flows of 20,000 to 35,000 (and even 115,000 cubic feet per second as in 1986 and 1997) are several times the release levels for optimal protection and result in serious degradation of the Parkway experience.
Our decision is a Parkway centric decision congruent with our mission-driven philosophy that the 5,000 acres of the Parkway comprise the most important acreage in the Sacramento region. We also understand not all agree with this priority and that is one reason the Parkway struggles financially and remains low on the funding priority list.
Our reasoning behind this decision—and our mission of “Preserve, Protect, and Strengthen the American River Parkway, Our Community’s Natural Heart”—is based, primarily, on these factors:
The historical importance of the American River and the Parkway.
1) In 1848 gold was discovered at Coloma on the American River, and this was an event of international proportion, that while clearly tragic for many, was an epic time, as H. W. Brands in his book The Age of Gold: the California Gold Rush and the New American Dream (2002) has noted:
“Yet for all its sordid side, the new American dream was an enormously creative force. It unleashed the energies of the American people, and of the many millions of foreigners who, drawn by this compelling dream, chose to become Americans. (It also unleashed the energies of those who stayed in other countries—or in some important cases, returned to other countries from America—and emulated the Argonauts of California.) It raised the American standard of living beyond anything ever achieved so broadly. It afforded the most basic freedom—freedom from want—to more people than had ever enjoyed such release. And it gave unprecedented meaning to that really revolutionary idea of Thomas Jefferson: that humans have a right to the pursuit of happiness.” (p. 443-444)
2) A personal story: Several years ago while visiting Coloma, where gold was discovered in 1948, State Parks Ranger Sugarman related a story which resonated with me, and has always put the discovery of gold into the context I think it fully deserves.
He was guiding a group of Japanese tourists around the park, and while talking to them, a small group broke off and went to the specific site, on the American River South Fork, where gold was first taken out by James Marshall. They stood there for awhile, quietly talking among themselves, and then, while standing there, bowed very formally towards the river. Later, he asked them why they were bowing, and they told him that they were honoring, “the place where America found her power.”
The recreational importance of the Parkway
1) Lake Natoma was rated “Best All Round Rowing Facility in North America”, by Rowing News, in its April 6, 2003 issue, noting; “As an all-around facility, Lake Natoma may be the closest North America comes to a Bled or Lucerne.”
2) The American River Bike Trail is rated #9 in the country by Trails.com who note it is: “Arguably one of the most successful and beautifully paved bike trails in northern California, this 32 mile gem of a trail stretches from downtown Sacramento eastward to Folsom Dam (64 mile round trip).”
3) “The parkway gets a million more visitors than does Yosemite National Park.” Parkway in Peril, Sacramento Bee Editorial, January 2, 2004.
The economic importance of the Parkway
1) It is an economic engine that “generates an estimated $259,034,030 in annual economic activity in the local economy.” American River Parkway: Financial Needs Study. Dangermond Group: (August 10, 2000) (Page 3)
2) The quality of life aspect of the Parkway is priceless, through recent research indicates quality of life resources provide substantial economic, social, and spiritual benefits.
The current water storage capacity is too small to adequately control the water flow and temperature, under large and periodic run-off conditions, to protect the recreational, habitat, and wildlife integrity of the Parkway.
1) The capacity of Folsom Lake is inadequate to store the water needed to provide adequate water temperature and flows for optimal recreational, habitat, and wildlife conditions during dry years, and to capture overflow during wet years.
The 500 year protection from flooding a major new dam will provide to the Sacramento community.
1) Though our mission and our perspective is Parkway centric, the construction of a major new dam on the American River will also provide substantial (500 year) flood protection, water supply, and power generation resources to the Sacramento region, of which the Parkway is the natural heart.
We feel it is important to lend our perspective to this public debate during this time of urgent investigation resulting from the recent New Orleans flooding and the New Year’s scare here in Sacramento. It is during these windows of policy opportunity that public engagement and education occur.
Our organizational research will continue, and we will specify a particular dam size, location, and design in our report on water storage and supply by September 24, 2006.
