The Bureau of Reclamation has made it clear that this river restoration will not make it difficult to restore the site for building the Auburn Dam once it is finally approved.
Dam plans washed out; river stretch restored
The American River near Auburn is flowing unfettered for the first time in four decades after agencies remade a stretch into a set of rapids designed to thrill paddlers.
By M.S. Enkoji - menkoji@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 23, 2007
In the end, a river runs through it again.
But this time, with an E-ticket-ride bonus.
Down the steep canyon from this overlook near Auburn, the American River flows unfettered for the first time in four decades – 40 years in which the federal government attempted to create what became a storied public works white elephant.
An Auburn dam will likely never rise here after years of controversy and dispute – and $400 million in construction and study. Now with the natural river run restored, recreation will return, just like the scrub brush is struggling to do on the stripped canyon walls.
Paddlers could start lining up to run the enhanced changes along the renewed river stretch that will guarantee a 1,000-foot ride of thrilling rapids.
There's nothing like it on the river.
