Gravel on its way to aid fish spawning habitat
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, December 13, 2007
RANCHO CORDOVA – Federal officials on Monday will begin delivering hundreds of tons of gravel to the banks of the American River for a project to improve fish spawning habitat.
The $1.5 million project by the Bureau of Reclamation will be on the north bank of the river between Nimbus Dam and Sailor Bar. For two to three weeks dump trucks will stockpile gravel along river. The 30 to 40 truckloads a day will be delivered only on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Starting next summer, the gravel will be spread on the river bottom to increase spawning areas for salmon and steelhead. The project also includes creating side channels to provide refuge and spawning areas for fish.
Salmon and steelhead spawn by depositing eggs in gravel beds on the river bottom. But there isn't enough gravel habitat in the two miles below Nimbus Dam, in part because the dam blocks movement of gravel downstream. The project, authorized under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, is designed to remedy that.
In total, about 290 truckloads of gravel – about 50,000 cubic yards – will be added to the river over five years.
– Matt Weiser
