Lower American River restoration spawning surveys at project and control reaches (2022 - 2024)

Sacramento Water Forum has implemented spawning and rearing habitat enhancement projects on the Lower American River at the Lower Sailor Bar, Nimbus Basin, Upper River Bend and Lower River Bend reaches. Enhancements include installation of gravel to restore over 28 acres of spawning habitat and in-channel/floodplain grading to create over 44 acres of rearing habitat. Construction of Lower Sailor Bar and Nimbus Basin were completed in summer 2022, Upper River Bend was completed in summer 2023, and Lower River Bend was completed in summer 2024. The goal of the projects is to increase existing spawning and rearing habitat for salmonids under typical flows. This work supports effectiveness monitoring for this project, including spawning and rearing (snorkel) surveys before and after restoration. This work also informs performance metrics and adaptive management strategies.