[See Disclaimer below, regarding citizen grassroots volunteers and website]

AMERICAN RIVER TREES

LATEST ACTIONS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT!! WE ARE ENTERING A CRUCIAL STAGE!!

Thank you to 200 who packed the Library May 23, and 300+ who Walked for Wildlife, growing numbers at “Stand Up” events , 3,200+ petition signatures, and hundreds of letters written to the Army Corps (and elected leaders) asking for alternatives to the destructive “erosion” work under Contract 3B! On May 12, 2025, the Army Corps officially posted their Final SEIS/SEIR documents (including response-to-comments), totaling over 8,000 pages, and began a 30-day waiting period. We are entering a crucial stage!

The State co-sponsor, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB), has authority to vote, and can accept, reject, or modify the project, at a public meeting. Project discussion is on their Agenda for Board meetings, and they are accepting public comment.

May 23 was a lengthy technical discussion. American River Trees (ART) had 25 minutes for a presentation of key concerns and less-destructive alternatives.

June 13 is a discussion of the environmental documents, and is a key opportunity to comment, before the Board meets to vote (date of vote is TBD).

See the “Events” page.

A big showing of Parkway supporters is vital to “stand up” with American River Trees on June 13 (and the voting meeting, TBD).

Please consider commenting! Whether you plan to speak or not, please submit your written comment to the Board: Jonah.Knapp@cvflood.ca.gov. View Events for suggestions.

YOUR PRESENCE IS POWERFUL AND CRUCIAL!

Extensive public comments delayed the “3B” original schedule, and we need to keep the pressure on. Vegetation removal is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2025. It is urgent we continue to press the agencies and our elected leaders to insist on ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS that are less destructive. Preservation of existing habitat is desirable over restoration attempts later.

Keep showing up, keep writing your leaders, donate, spread the word and the petition! (Addresses and more ideas below). Thank you!

Last updated: June 9, 2025.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

NEW "Calling Card!"

Quick calls make a big impact!

Download card and call your representatives!

-SIGN THE PETITION for the Army Corps (USACE) to find a better way to protect the riverbanks than destroying miles of irreplaceable mature forest and vital wildlife connections, just to install "launchable riprap rock". (The existing dense trees and vegetation already stabilize the riverbank and protect the levees. These areas have already withstood high flows).

Sign the Petition

DONATE to the AmericanRiverTrees.org effort:

Donate

Call or email your representatives:

Check upcoming Events Page:

Contact leaders

Events

READ THE ISSUES AND WRITE TO REPRESENTATIVES AND LEADERS

* ON-GOING CLAIMS AND CONCERNS *

On April 8th there was a public meeting held with Ami Bera and some Army Corps (USACE) staff to “discuss” the project details. While USACE shared a lot of information, there were several claims made that conflict with the data presented to the public. We’ve summarized a handful of these in the below bullets. Please keep this information in mind as you discuss this project with elected officials, the media, neighbors, family, and others.

Although USACE claimed they must design for 160,000 cfs, current SAFCA environmental and planning documents state that 115,000 cfs design will be sufficient to manage for 200-year flood events after the Folsom Dam Raise Project is complete in 2027.
Although USACE claimed that riprap is required to prevent erosion in all areas of contract 3B, the data (hydrology, permissible shear, and flow) they have presented indicates that adding round river cobble and new plantings to augment existing trees would provide sufficient protection during flow velocities expected at 160,000 cfs.
Although USACE claimed that the erosion that has occurred on the new planting benches near Sac State is “superficial”, this erosion is exposing riprap, and is happening under normal winter rainfall, and could prevent vegetation from fully returning.
Although USACE claimed that previous revegetation efforts in 2011 and near Sac State in 2001 and River Park have been successful, closer observation reveals a bushy low-diversity mix often dominated by willows and lacking most of the original shade-tree overstory of oaks, tall cottonwoods, alders, and Oregon ash. Most notable is the heavy riprap dominating the water’s edge and also the compacted forest floor, making the shore inaccessible to small watercraft and the forest inhospitable to wildlife.
Although USACE claimed they have designed their projects to spare most of the heritage oaks in the contract 3B footprint, their documents have misidentified and undercounted the oaks, have failed to identify exactly how and which oaks will be saved, have failed to consider the necessary root protection zones, and have failed to identify the further damaging construction access ramps in their footprints.
Although USACE claimed they have worked with environmental and resource agencies to make their designs consistent with environmental laws, Sacramento County Regional Parks wrote in their comment letter that the 2023 Draft SEIS/SEIR is inconsistent with the American River Parkway Plan and therefore also the Wild and Scenic River definition.
Although USACE claimed they are addressing “recreation short term impacts,” they have ignored the short- and long-term effects on the small beaches, social trails, and access points for small watercraft.

KEEP SCROLLING FOR MORE SUGGESTED ACTIONS

OTHER ON-GOING ACTIONS YOU CAN DO

* KEEP WRITING LETTERS TO MORE LEADERS *

If you wrote a comment to the Army Corps and didn't already include the leaders below, you can magnify your impact by forwarding your original comment to any or all of them (or write the suggested new short paragraph directly to them).

Copy the email addresses below into the "To" line. A short intro text is provided for you to copy as well. And as always, thank you!

Forward Your USACE Comment To County Supervisors:

All county supervisors also serve on the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency.

To: RichDesmond@saccounty.gov, PatHume@saccounty.gov, SupervisorKennedy@saccounty.gov, SupervisorSerna@saccounty.gov, SupervisorFrost@saccounty.gov
Intro text: Dear Supervisors Desmond, Hume, Kennedy, Serna, and Frost:

Thank you for your service on the SAFCA Board and Board of Supervisors. We greatly appreciate your support of past, true improvements in flood safety for Sacramento. However, we ask that you please influence the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the unnecessary “erosion” methods being proposed in “Contract 3B and 4B”. These methods would destroy the Crown Jewel of Sacramento, and could actually make us LESS SAFE for years to come.

Forward Your USACE Comment To Members of Congress:

Members of Congress have important influence on federal agencies, including the Army Corps.

To: casework_padilla@padilla.senate.gov, casework@Butler.senate.gov, repamibera@mail.house.gov, Matthew.Ceccato@mail.house.gov, George.Hatamiya@mail.house.gov, casework.katieporter@mail.house.gov
Intro text: Dear U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler and U.S. Representatives Dr. Ami Bera, Honorable Doris Matsui, and Katie Porter:

Thank you for securing past funding for true improvements in flood safety for Sacramento. Your efforts are deeply appreciated. Please do not let your legacy be tarnished by the unnecessary "erosion" methods being proposed in the Army Corps of Engineers "Contract 3B and 4B”. These methods would destroy the Crown Jewel of Sacramento, and could actually make us LESS SAFE, for years to come.

Forward Your USACE Comment To Parks / Resources Representatives:

To reach different parks and natural resources agencies, we suggest sending several separate emails to leaders from different agencies.

To (Group #1): BellasE@saccounty.net, SorgenKC@saccounty.gov
To (Group #2): Susan_Rosebrough@nps.gov, Barbara_Rice@nps.gov, hbwillia44@gmail.com
To (Group #3): Meghan.Hertel@resources.ca.gov, Susan_Rosebrough@nps.gov
Intro text: Dear Parks/Resources Leaders:

Thank you for your role in protecting our treasured Federal and State designated Wild and Scenic American River and Parkway. We ask that you do everything in your power to influence the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the unnecessary “erosion” methods being proposed in “Contract 3B and 4B”. These methods would destroy the Crown Jewel of Sacramento, and are unnecessary for true flood safety improvement, and could actually make us LESS SAFE for years to come. This Wild and Scenic area should be preserved as part of the President's America the Beautiful directive to all federal agencies, and California's 30x30 strategy.