Choosing Democracy: Save AMERICAN RIVER Trees

Dear Parkway Partners & American River Trees (ART) Supporters:

We have all been following the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)/Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) levee work on portions of the lower American River.  The work started at Paradise Beach, Campus Commons Golf Course, H Street Bridge, and Sac State/Howe.  These huge engineering projects resulted in the almost total removal of trees and vegetation from the River and Parkway.

The Corps has recently released the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIS/SEIR) for the next phase of their erosion protection measures (Contract 3B).  The upcoming Contract 3B envisions similar devasting impacts to areas of the River and Parkway between Howe Avenue bridge and Watt Avenue bridge, continuing a mile upstream of the Watt Avenue bridge to the vicinity of Mayhew/Rio Bravo Circle on the River's south bank, and Estates Drive on the north bank.  The work includes access ramps behind Rio Bravo, and an equipment staging area in Larchmont Community Park.  The newly released environmental report anticipates bulldozing over 500 more Parkway trees.

Parkway advocates and concerned citizens are mobilizing to question the efficacy of these massive erosion protection measures in the areas of the River and Parkway identified in Contract 3B. USACE has scheduled virtual public meetings for January 10 and January 16, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.  Comments on the Draft SEIS/SEIR are due by February 5, 2024. 

Choosing Democracy: Save AMERICAN RIVER Trees: URGENT!   Another stretch of our beautiful Wild and Scenic American River is at huge risk! U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has multiple...