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RIVERWATCHNEW HABITAT IS BEINGDEVELOPED FOR SALMONAND TROUT IN THE LOWERAMERICAN RIVERThe Sacramento Water Forum haswork underway to create habitat forfall-run Chinook Salmon andSteelhead Trout in the area wherethe Harold M. Richey MemorialBridge crosses the Lower AmericanRiver. River Bend Park is on thesoutheast side of the project siteand the William B. Pond RecreationArea on the river’s northwest side. The project will provide: Nearly five acres of spawninghabitat for adult salmon andsteelhead to create redds(underwater depressions ornests), constructed by placing6,800 cubic yards of clean gravelinto the flowing river. Over three acres of rearinghabitat for young fish to hidefrom predators, find food andgrow, created by deepening and A quarterly publication from Save the American River AssociationVOLUME 63 • ISSUE 02SUMMER 2024Special Status Species in the American River ParkwayThe American River Parkway is well known for the diverse plant andanimal species that inhabit the area. State officials estimate that theParkway’s deer population numbers about 2,600. And at least 218 birdspecies have been identified. But some of those plants and animals have been defined as SpecialStatus Species. They are listed, proposed or candidates for listing asthreatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act.Others with declining populations have been designated as Species ofSpecial Concern. And at least four bird species have ample populationsin California, but they aren’t often seen in the Parkway. What follows are brief descriptions of Special Status Species in theParkway. BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)Special Status: Fully Protected and Endangered. The Bald Eagle population is still recovering from the widespread use ofthe DDT insecticide which was banned in 1972 in both the United Statesand Canada. There are two active nests on the Lower American River. One inOrangevale on the bluff above Lake Natoma and another near CampPollock in Sacramento. Young eagles take 4-to 5 years to acquire adult plumage. They spendthose years in nomadic exploration of vast territories and can flyhundreds of miles per day before finally finding a mate and establishing anest. BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)IN THIS ISSUEState’s Salmon Fishing SeasonCancelled PAGE 4 In Memoriam PAGE 5 Tires Shed Particles thatPollute Air and Water PAGE 6 New Disease Detected inCalifornia’s Deer PAGE 7Continued on page 2Continued on page 4

Rather than do their own fishing, Bald Eagles often go after othercreatures catches. They’ve been seen snatching a fish out of the talons ofanother raptor. Benjamin Franklin favored choosing the Turkey as the U.S.emblem. “I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative ofour country,” Franklin wrote in 1784. “He is a Bird of bad moral Character.He does not get his Living honestly.”Bald Eagles sometimes hunt cooperatively with one individual flushingprey towards another. They can live a long time. The oldest recorded birdin the wild had been banded for 38 years when it was hit and killed by a carin New York in 2015.PAGE 2 • SUMMER 2024SPECIAL STATUS SPECIESContinued from page 1SWAINSON’S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)Special Status: Threatened. On the American River Parkway, Swainson’s Hawks usually nest inwoodlands next to open areas like Sailor Bar and spend most of their timesearching for prey within a mile or so of their nest. Elsewhere in the CentralValley, they tend to forage in pastures and open fields. Courting partners perform a “sky dance.” They soar in circles high abovethe nest site with the male making steep dives and recoveries beforerejoining the female.When breeding, Swainson’s Hawks usually feed their chicks rodents,rabbits and reptiles. But when not breeding, most of their diet consists ofinsects, mostly grasshoppers and dragonflies. They often forage on foot,running after insects and small mammals with wings outstretched.Swainson’s Hawks spend the spring and summer in the Central Valley andin open lands in Southern Canada, and the U.S. Midwest and Southwest.Come fall, they form flocks numbering in the thousands, often mixing withTurkey Vultures, Broad-winged Hawks and Mississippi Kites. The flockscontinue to expand as they head south to wintering areas in Mexico andCentral America. Some fly all the way to Argentina, one of the longestmigrations of any American raptor.Continued on page 3WESTERN POND TURTLE(Actinemys marmorata)Special Status: Species of SpecialConcern. Western Pond Turtlesalso are a candidate for listingunder the Federal EndangeredSpecies Act.The Western Pond Turtle isCalifornia’s only freshwater turtleand is found throughout theAmerican River Parkway, especiallyaround Bushy Lake. Western PondTurtles spend most of their lives inwater, but they also requireterrestrial habitats for nestingwhich could be up to a half mileaway from the nearest water. Theytravel over the Parkway’s trailsduring the nesting period from lateMay to mid-July. That puts them atrisk from being run over by bikers.The Western Pond Turtles also arelosing their habitat to Red-earedSlider Turtles – a non-nativespecies that are sold in pet stores.Over the years, many pet ownershave dumped them in the Parkwaywhere they quickly proliferate.Juvenile Western Pond Turtles alsoare preyed upon by bullfrogs andsome fresh-water fish such as thenon-native bass.Female Western Pond Turtles reachsexual maturity in 10-to-15 years.Males mature quicker in 8-to-10years. Females usually find nestingsites in an area with dry soil, sparsevegetation and a southernexposure. The female digs a holefor the nest where she deposits aclutch of 3-to-13 eggs. The hole isthen filled with a mixture ofvegetation and dirt to provide anair space, then covered with wetsoil to keep eggs in a humidenvironment. Eggs incubate in 90-to-130 days, depending on summertemperatures.Western Pond Turtles areomnivorous. They eat everythingfrom insects and frog eggs to algaeand roots of plants. And they canlive up to 50 years.SARARIVERWATCH.ORG

VALLEY ELDERBERRY LONGHORN BEETLE (Desmoceros californicusdimorphus)Special Status: Classified as Threatened under the Federal EndangeredSpecies Act. Not classified under the California Endangered Species Act.In the early years of California statehood, the Valley Elderberry LonghornBeetle thrived in the Central Valley’s riparian habitat from Shasta Countyto Kern County. But as habitat was cleared for agriculture and urbandevelopment over many decades, the beetle’s distribution wasfragmented. In 1982 when the beetle was listed as Threatened under theFederal Endangered Species Act, the beetle could only be found along theAmerican and Merced Rivers, and Putah Creek in Yolo County.State officials immediately went to work to restore habitat for the ValleyElderberry Longhorn Beetle and significant progress has been made.Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetles grow to a length of about ¾ of an inchand depend on elderberry bushes for every phase of their life cycle.After mating, females lay their eggs in crevices in the elderberry bark. Inabout ten days, the eggs hatch and the larvae bore into the pith wherethey feed and mature for 1-to-2 years by tunneling through the spongypith of the large stems, trunks and roots of the elderberry. After pupation,they emerge as brightly colored adults through oval-shaped exit holesthat they chew through the bark. The males measue about 0.8 inches andthe females are a little larger. The adults only live from a few days to a fewweeks after emerging. During that brief period, their priorities are eatingfoliage and mating.SANFORD’S ARROWHEAD (Sagittariasanfordii)Special Status: Designated as Rare by theCalifornia Native Plant Society.This herbaceous perennial grows in ponds,sloughs, drainages and slow-movingstreams. When mature, it is 2-to-5 inchestall and has beautiful white blooms fromMay through October. The narrow leavesare basil with a blade 5-to-10 inches longand a tapered base. The plants areoccasionally found up to an elevation of1,000 feet in the Sacramento Valley,Klamath Ranges, Cascade foothills and DelNorte County’s coastal areas.SPECIAL STATUS SPECIESContinued from page 2PAGE 3 • SUMMER 2024CROTCH’S BUMBLEBEE (Bombuscrotchii)Special Status: Candidate forlisting as Endangered. California’s Central Valley onceserved as the primary populationcenter for Crotch’s Bumblebee.But there has been a dramaticdecline in their range in recentdecades due to pesticide use,habitat loss, urbanization andclimate change. Unlike most otherbumblebees, Crotch’s species canonly tolerate a narrow range ofclimate conditions. Inbreedingcould be another factor in thepopulation loss.Like other bumblebees, Crotch’sBumblebees are social insects thatlive in annual colonies composedof a queen, workers andreproductives. Nests are oftenlocated underground inabandoned rodent nests, or aboveground in tufts of grass, old birdnests, or cavities in dead trees. Onthe American River Parkway,colonies have been found in rockpiles created when gold was beingdredged.Mated queens overwinter andconduct all the foraging and carefor the colony in early spring untilthe first workers emerge andassist with these duties.Crotch’s Bumblebees prefercertain plant species as a foodsource including milkweeds,lupines, phacelias, sages, clarkias,poppies and wild buckwheats. The state Dept. of Fish & Wildlife has identified four bird species thatshould not be given Special Status in California. But they are uncommonin the American River Parkway. Here they are:Bank Swallow Burrowing Owl Purple MartinTricolored BlackbirdSARARIVERWATCH.ORG

Harold M. RicheyMemorial BridgeHarold M. RicheyMemorial BridgeHiding and resting places for youngfish by placing about 35 large woodytree structures from adecommissioned orchard into the sidechannel.Over two acres of enhanced riparianlandscape by planting or seeding theproject area with willows and nativeflowers and grasses when the projectis completed. The project got underway in August and isto be completed by late October beforesalmon return from the Pacific Ocean tospawn. The spawning season for troutoccurs from January through March.Work crews are on the site Mondaythrough Saturday, but there won’t be in-river work on weekends. The bike trail isremaining open during construction.Rafters, kayakers and boaters are able topass through the area and the projectteam is on hand to ensure that passagecan be accomplished safety. Historically, fish swam up to 100 miles tothe American River’s upper watershedbefore Folsom and Nimbus Dam blockedtheir passage. The dams also trap vitalsediment needed to replenish spawningareas that naturally erode over time in theriver. For a number of years, the WaterForum has identified suitable areas toreplenish gravel and support the fishery.SALMON HABITATContinued from page 2reconnecting the existing 1,600-footside channel with the main river andshaping one acre of seasonalfloodplain.SARARIVERWATCH.ORGSide ChannelSide ChannelRiver Bend ParkRiver Bend ParkStaging AreaStaging AreaSpawningHabitatSpawningHabitatWilliam B. PondRecreation AreaWilliam B. PondRecreation AreaPAGE 4 • SUMMER 2024California’s salmon fishing season has been cancelled for thesecond year in a row due to the dramatic decline in ChinookSalmon populations. Commercial and sport fishing is not allowedoff the California coast, in the Central Valley and the KlamathRiver Basin. State officials have cited numerous causes for the plummetingsalmon numbers including “drought and climate disruption” and“severe wildfires and associated impacts to spawning and rearinghabitat, harmful algal blooms, and ocean forage shifts.” A coalition of fishing, tribal and environment groups blame thefisheries decline on “horrendous” water policies. They contend: The state has failed to require temperature protection forsalmon eggs in rivers. As a result, lethal hot water “caused byexcessive and unsustainable agriculture water deliveriesearlier in the year” killed incubating salmon eggs.STATE’S SALMON FISHING SEASON CANCELLED FOR 2ND YEAR IN A ROWThe state failed to update river standards to protectout-migrating salmon. As a result, most baby salmondo not survive their journey out of the Central Valley tothe ocean.The state has allowed additional pumping of water outof The Delta, especially during drought years. Fordecades, The Delta’s “death pumps” have been thebiggest killers of salmon, steelhead, SacramentoSplittail and other species. Instead of developing solutions that would benefitfisheries, the environment, fishing families and businesses,the state is pushing The Delta tunnel and Sites Reservoirprojects. In a normal season, the California salmon industryis valued at $1.4 billion and supports 23,000 jobs. But if thecurrent trends continue, California may never have anothernormal season.

I N M E M O R I A MSave the American RiverAssociation has receiveddonations in memory of thefollowing friends:Carl BuchellLin B. FeilMarc TanfaniSARA frequently receivesdonations in memory of lostloved ones, many of whom wereusers and supporters of theAmerican River Parkway. Somedonors give names. Othersprefer to remain anonymous.SARA notifies family memberswhen donations are made. Themoney is used to further SARA’sadvocacy work on behalf of theParkway.Contributions may be made bycheck or online via SARA’s Website. SARA also has a Legacyprogram. For information on theprogram, please contact theSARA office.Marya LibertyDonald LinvilleDavid MartinAmanda MeekerDan MeierMary Beth & Robert MetcalfTony & Joyce MihanovichJerry Allan MintonJohn MooreLori Christensen & Jim MorganGaylord & Janet MouldsMaren & Mo NasseriKelly & Janet NimtzSusan & Leo NorthartGeorge NybergDr. Pam O DellGlenn & Devon OlsonPhil PantagesCathy PattersonVirginia PowellColene & Ted RauhW. Scott RynearsonLynn SealLyvonne SewellKathryn ShurtleffCheryl SlamaChristopher SmithFelix SmithTerry SnyderSusan SolarzPete SpauldingMichelle Stevens - Bushy LakeRosemary TanfaniAlan Rhodes & Tracy KolingerWarren TruittTim ViallAlan WadeLori WardEric WebbFred & Betsy WeilandSteve & Tracy WetzelTony WhetstoneTom & Diane Woodruff Granite Bay Flycasters Mary BancheroMitchel & Susan BensonMark BerryLois BiehlerCathy BirchJoe CadelagoMary Ellen CarboniKeith CherryKelly CohenMarianne ConarroeKenneth CooleyJacqueline DeLuWilliam Patterson & Doris BrownWilliam DunnJason EllisSue EvansNick EwingJanet FeilDick ForehandBruce FormanAlcides FreitasFlorence Smith FrewenRichard GerberKen & Susan GiannottiStephen GreenKathryn GriffinElke GuenterShawn HarrisonPhyllis HayesMark HenryDave & Janice HillJim HouptJohn HulsJohn Cox & Jan AdamsSteven KahnKathy KaynerTom KingLinda KingsleyJoseph KlunNancy KniskernMarianne LeachSARARIVERWATCH.ORGPAGE 5 • SUMMER 2024SARA MEMBERSHIP DONATIONSA P R I L - J U N E 2 0 2 4SARA appreciates the support of our generous members. Without yoursupport, SARA would not be able to continue our role as Guardians of theAmerican River and Parkway since 1961. New and renewing members arelisted in RiverWatch according to their preference (indicated on the SARAmembership/renewal form).I N H O N O R O FSave the American RiverAssociation has receiveddonations in honor of of thefollowing friends:Michele Dodge and MattRichard

Over a year, tires on a car shed an average of fivepounds of metallic particles, microplastics andchemical compounds when the rubber meets theroad.The impact the particles have on air pollution andhuman health has not been determined. Butstudies in California and Washington State haveshown that when the particles wash intowaterways they can kill marine animals or causeneurotoxicity that results in retarded growth orbehavior abnormalities. And Coho Salmon are themost vulnerable.Most tires are made from about 20 percentnatural rubber, 24 percent synthetic rubber andfive gallons of petroleum per tire. Then there aremany other ingredients including steel, copper,cadmium, lead and zinc which are added toenhance performance of the tires, improvedurability and reduce the possibility of fires.One of the chemicals added to tires is 6PPDwhich helps prevent cracking and degradation.When 6PPD in shedded particles is exposed toground-level ozone, it is transformed into otherchemicals including 6PPD-quinone, or 6PPD-q.Thestudies found the compound to be acutely toxicto four of 11 tested fish species including CohoSalmon. Rebecca Sutton, an environmental scientist withthe San Francisco Estuary Institute has beenstudying stormwater runoff. “Our estimatedannual discharge of microplastics into SanFrancisco Bay from stormwater was 7 trillionparticles, and half of that was suspected tireparticles,” Sutton said.Scientists at Imperial College London reportedthat tires generate 6 million tons of particlesglobally each year. And 200,000 tons end up inoceans.T I R E S S H E D P A R T I C L E S T H A TP O L L U T E A I R A N D W A T E R...when the particles wash into waterwaysthey can kill marine animals or causeneurotoxicity that results in retardedgrowth or behavior abnormalities. AndCoho Salmon are the most vulnerable.PAGE 6 • SUMMER 2024In response, the California EnvironmentalProtection Agency issued a order for tiremanufacturers to develop an alternative to 6PPDtires sold in the state. Government agencies inother countries have taken similar action.The world’s largest tire manufacturers haveformed the Tire Industry Project to search forways to redesign tires to reduce or eliminateemissions.Researchers also found that heavier vehiclesshed more particulate matter. Electric vehiclestend to weigh about 30 percent more than thosepowered by motor fuel. Standard car batteriesweigh 25-to-50 pounds while EV batteriesaverage 1,000 pounds.State officials advise that motorists can reduceparticle shedding by driving slower and avoidingpeel outs and fast turns. A bigger problem,however, is the poor condition of many streetsand roads in California where potholes andcrumbling surfaces cause damage to tires. SARARIVERWATCH.ORGTires routinely shed particulates that contribute to air and water pollution.

Where to Purchase Your Parks Pass:*Senior discount passes must be purchasedin person at the County Parks office.Discount applies to ages 65 or older andmust have proof of age at time of purchase.indicate that the disease probably hasbeen present in California for sometime since the incubation period canbe months to years, officialsconcluded. Some of the sampling was conductedin the American River Parkway wherestate officials estimate the deerpopulation to be about 2,600. Symptoms of the disease includeprogressive weight loss, clumsymovements and lack of coordination,listlessness, drooling, excessive thirstor urination and behavioral changes.Once the symptoms develop, deathoccurs quickly. There have been no reports to date ofthe disease being transferred tohumans. But state officials cautionthat no one should eat meat from ananimal that had been sick and huntersare urged to test their harvested deeror elk. The public is urged to report anysigns of illness in deer and elk. Chronic wasting disease has beendetected for the first time inCalifornia’s deer population. The California Dept. of Fish & Wildlifereceived confirmation of the diseaselast May from samples collected fromtwo dead deer — one in MaderaCounty near Yosemite Lakes andanother in Inyo County near Bishop. Chronic wasting disease is a fatalcondition found in cervid animalssuch as deer, elk, moose and reindeer.It has been detected in free-ranginganimals in 34 states, five Canadianprovinces and Scandinavia. It affectsthe brain causing progressivedamage and eventually death. Thereis no known cure for the disease. Since 2000, state wildlife officials hadbeen monitoring California deer andelk populations through lymph nodesampling and testing without findingevidence of the disease. The twodetections confirmed last May N E W D I S E A S E D E T E C T E D I N C A L I F O R N I A ’ S D E E RPAGE 7 • SUMMER 2024Mule deer buck on the American River Parkway Photo by Kathy KaynerTo report a sick deer or elk Google: Wildlife Mortality Reporting To learn more and find out how toget a cervid harvest tested Google:Chronic Wasting DiseaseSARARIVERWATCH.ORGSUPPORT COUNTY PARKSBuy An Annual PassFor as little as $70 per year, you can have unlimited access and parking in the parks. All funds go directly towardsmaintaining and operating the 15,000-acre system. Pass holders receive free daily entry into Regional Parks and annual passes are valid for one year from the date ofpurchase.Pass Fees Are Based On Use:Vehicle: $70Vehicle + Trailer/Boat/RV: $130Senior Citizen Vehicle*: $35Senior Citizen Vehicle +Trailer/Boat/RV*: $65Online thro ugh the Cou nty'sPurchasing Portal : Effie Yeaw Nature Center at AncilHoffman ParkRegional Park offices and parkkiosksMail in a completed Parks AnnualPass Applicatio n to: Parks Passes,10361 Rockingham Dr, SacramentoCA. 95827https://govhub.com/sacramento/regionalparks

S A V E T H E A M E R I C A N R I V E R A S S O C I A T I O N8836 Greenback Lane, Suite COrangevale, CA 95662 Phone: 916-716-7429Email: info@sarariverwatch.orgwww.sarariverwatch.orgR E T U R N S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E DMy gift to SARA is a:$ Name: Guardians of the American River andParkway Since 1961O F F I C E R SD I R E C T O R SA D V I S O R Y C O U N C I LV O L U N T E E R S & S T A F FNON PROFITU.S. POSTAGEPAIDPERMIT 922SACRAMENTO, CAStephen Green - PresidentWarren Truitt - Vice PresidentMary Beth Metcalf - TreasurerJoe Cadelago - SecretaryMark BerryElke GuenterJim MorganFelix SmithAlan WadeBetsy WeilandKelly CohenJoseph KlunGeorge NybergTim ViallEric WebbDan BacherDavid ClarkAl FreitasGary KukkolaDave LydickScott RynearsonRon StorkDavid ThesellAnne BaronMaxine ClarkCallie HurdPam LapinskiClyde MacdonaldRandy SmithRon SuterDan WinkelmanBetsy WeilandVolunteer Coordinator Sara StephensOffice ManagerM E M B E R S H I P A N D C O N T R I B U T I O N SRenewal New Membership Non Membership DonationMemorial - In Memory of (Name): May we publish your name as a SARA member in a future RiverWatch issue?(Contribution amount will not be included) Yes No, thank youPlease provide credit card info below or go to our secure Web site to donate: sarariverwatch.org -VISA, Mastercard, AmEx or Discover acceptedPlease indicate your total contributionThe following membership categories are suggested:$10-24 Student$50 + Supporting$250 + Business$25-49 Regular$100 + Family$1,000 + SustainingCheck Credit CardAddress: City, State, ZIP:Credit Card #:Security Code:Expiration Date: Phone:Email:Please send me information on SARA’s legacy program