Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
At River Bend, a serene curve on the American River below Folsom and Nimbus Dams, a vital project is underway to improve the habitat for native Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. This site is pivotal as the first enhanced habitat area that returning salmon encounter on the Lower American River.
Chinook salmon spawn from October to December, and steelhead trout from January to March. Females lay eggs in nests called redds, made in the river's gravelly beds. After hatching, the young fish seek refuge in calmer floodplain waters to grow, shielded from predators, before their journey to the Pacific Ocean. However, this critical habitat has diminished over time. The River Bend project aims to restore nearly 5 acres of spawning grounds by introducing clean gravel, encouraging redd formation. It also plans to create over 3 acres of nursery habitat, offering young fish a haven to mature safely. The project includes installing large wood structures for cover and rejuvenating over 2 acres of riverside area with indigenous plants. Supported by the Central Valley Improvement Act (CVPIA), Reclamation and the Water Forum have joined forces to undertake this essential work, marking a significant move towards a sustainable ecosystem and robust wildlife conservation.
For more information on the project visit the following website:
usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/4958?field_story=1
waterforum.org/habitat2024
For a link to photos from the site visit our Flickr site:
flickr.com/photos/usbr/albums/72177720320120337
Find out more about the Bureau of Reclamation: usbr.gov
X: https://x.com/usbr
Facebook: facebook.com/bureauofreclamation
Instagram: instagram.com/bureau_of_reclamation
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/bureau-of-reclamation
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/usbr/albums
At River Bend, a serene curve on the American River below Folsom and Nimbus Dams, a vital project is underway to improve the habitat for native Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. This site is pivotal as the first enhanced habitat area that returning salmon encounter on the Lower American River.
Chinook salmon spawn from October to December, and steelhead trout from January to March. Females lay eggs in nests called redds, made in the river's gravelly beds. After hatching, the young fish seek refuge in calmer floodplain waters to grow, shielded from predators, before their journey to the Pacific Ocean. However, this critical habitat has diminished over time. The River Bend project aims to restore nearly 5 acres of spawning grounds by introducing clean gravel, encouraging redd formation. It also plans to create over 3 acres of nursery habitat, offering young fish a haven to mature safely. The project includes installing large wood structures for cover and rejuvenating over 2 acres of riverside area with indigenous plants. Supported by the Central Valley Improvement Act (CVPIA), Reclamation and the Water Forum have joined forces to undertake this essential work, marking a significant move towards a sustainable ecosystem and robust wildlife conservation.
For more information on the project visit the following website:
usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/4958?field_story=1
waterforum.org/habitat2024
For a link to photos from the site visit our Flickr site:
flickr.com/photos/usbr/albums/72177720320120337
Find out more about the Bureau of Reclamation: usbr.gov
X: https://x.com/usbr
Facebook: facebook.com/bureauofreclamation
Instagram: instagram.com/bureau_of_reclamation
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/bureau-of-reclamation
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/usbr/albums
