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Please DONATE! ~ Please support our legal efforts to preserve the Parkway!
Please DONATE! ~ Please support our legal efforts to preserve the Parkway!
Nearly 700 trees are in danger of being removed for a bank erosion project along the American River Parkway! Less-destructive, nature-based alternatives (capable of equal flood protection with less environmental damage) were not sufficiently considered. Please join us in taking action.
AMERICAN RIVER TREES
TAKE ACTION:
ESSENTIALLY ALL THE TREES VISIBLE ON THE LEFT (ALL THE WAY TO WATT AVE IN THE DISTANCE) WOULD BE REMOVED FOR THE ARMY CORPS PROJECT 3B
THERE IS A BETTER WAY!
PROTECTION WITHOUT DEVASTATION!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has overly destructive plans for Contract 3B for erosion mitigation along the American River.
The plan will clear several miles of the American River including the removal of over 685 trees. The plan would devastate miles of our one-of-a-kind Wild and Scenic River in an urban area, taking with it:
Heritage Oaks, many as old as our country.
Natural habitats for animals like the Chinook salmon, and the hundreds of local and migratory birds.
Recreation areas along the riverbanks for fishing, hiking, and swimming.
We are asking for a more measured approach, backed by peer reviewed research that treats our riverfront with the care it deserves.
<< Latest Project Updates >>
Although disappointing that the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB) voted on July 18 to approve the Army Corps’ destructive American River erosion project, our efforts are not over! Huge thanks for the passionate and dedicated public efforts every step of the way!
NEXT STEPS:
American River Trees (ART) is working with our legal team regarding the unnecessarily destructive components and non‑compliant CEQA elements of the Army Corps’ American River erosion project, Contract 3B.
American River Trees (ART) has filed the complaint for a lawsuit. You can read the complaint document that was filed August 21, 2025, by clicking HERE.
“The lawsuit, filed against the Corps, U.S. National Park Service and a state entity called the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, claims the project violates federal and state's Wild and Scenic Rivers Acts, the National Environmental Policy Act, Administrative Procedure Act, the California Environmental Quality Act and other laws.”
"The goal of the lawsuit is not to stop the project," said Patrick Soluri, who is representing the Sacramento nonprofits [ART and SARA]. "The goal of the lawsuit is instead for the Army (Corps) to give meaningful consideration to the bioengineering alternative - which has been recommended by other federal agencies and even promised by the Army Corps in the past - so that the project does not destroy the natural resources of the American River."
Excerpts from SacBee article (linked below)
SacBee News Article*
Sacramento groups file federal lawsuit over American River Parkway tree removal
August 28, 2025
*Minor corrections:
The Contract 3B area is east of Howe Ave to the Mayhew Drain (not North of Watt Ave).
Vegetation clearing is scheduled to begin this fall in sections of Contract 3B.
You may ask: Does this lawsuit pause the construction schedule?
Answer: Unfortunately, filing a case does not automatically pause the project, however, we are currently seeking to achieve that outcome and will update you once we know more.
BIG thanks for your financial support that made this initial step possible!
See below for how to donate to keep the fight going
THANK YOU to all who have generously donated!
Additional funds are still needed to reach our goal.
It is YOU who will help to keep this fight strong!
If you haven’t donated yet, or would like to donate again, please DONATE here.
Donations are made through the Save the American River Association (SARA) to the ART Fund.
SARA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and your donation is tax-deductible.
ART was allowed 25 minutes at CVFPB May 23 meeting, to discuss our concerns regarding the Army Corps’ environmental documents, CEQA non-compliance, and ART’s discussion of feasible, less-destructive designs and proposals for the project. See ART slides from May 23 here.
Last Updated: September 30, 2025
Also, please sign the Petition, and invite ART to your neighborhood organizations and events so we can keep spreading the word. Many people don’t know they are about to lose trees and habitat in the Parkway and that There is a Better Way!
In the News: ABC10 News Coverage (video clip)
Hundreds of trees along the American River could be removed as part of a flood and erosion control, July 17, 2025.
OTHER WAYS TO AID THE EFFORT
Email us if you have helpful info or ideas: americanrivertreesupdates@gmail.com
Spread the word, forward this link to the recent email alert
Connect with us on Facebook:
Thank you for supporting efforts to preserve Sacramento’s Crown Jewel!
June 2024 maps for parts of 3B (adapted from USACE maps), and what we stand to lose:
(Older 2023 maps, kept for comparison):
KEEP WRITING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. Check back soon for further actions.
URGENT!
Another stretch of our beautiful Wild and Scenic American River is at huge risk!
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has multiple “bank erosion” projects in progress (photos below show their recent work near Sac State).
Contract “3B” is coming to the pristine areas east (further upstream) of Howe Ave, continuing beyond Watt Ave and all the way to Rio Bravo and Mayhew area.
Over 685 trees are planned to be removed (potentially including beloved heritage oaks).
Massive, permanent damage will be done to the American River Parkway and wildlife habitat.
More destruction will occur with this project than occurred with the actual levee upgrades completed over the last decade.
This new project would bring the total damaged area of the wildlife corridor to 11 miles out of the 26 miles of parkway below Nimbus Dam.
Despite the American River being a national and state Wild and Scenic River and portions designated as a “Protected Area” in the American River Parkway Plan, the USACE plans to move forward with the project unless the public can convince them to consider less damaging options.
With more than 8 million visits annually to the American River Parkway, which is more than Yosemite, the USACE project 3B will significantly diminish our parkway’s beauty and recreational values.
American River Trees is asking for...
A pause to the project, increased community engagement, and development of alternative designs that take into account the best available data and modeling, Federal and State climate change initiatives, Engineering With Nature principles and nature-based solutions to achieve a balance between effective flood protection, erosion control, and conservation of our Wild & Scenic American River Parkway; a project that generations will be proud of, not one that will take generations from which to recover, if ever.
TV News! See these TV news clips:
WATCH THESE SHORT VIDEOS ABOUT THE BEAUTY AT STAKE AND THE ISSUES WITH CONTRACT 3B:
River Walk, and Proposed Erosion Project Concerns
Spot Fix It
Fight or Flight
Fish Fight
Time Out
Protection Not Devastation
See Prior Key Points Used for Army Corps Letters
YOUR ACTION NEEDED
Thank you for continuing your support! Your voices are being heard!
How You Can Help
Sign the PETITION for a better way to protect the river banks than destroying vital parkway.
DONATE to the AmericanRiverTrees.org
Questions/Concerns remain after April 8 zoom co-hosted by Army Corps and Congressman Ami Bera.
(Click for info)Also contact representatives to raise awareness. Check out our sample emails.
Sign up for updates: sign up here!
Volunteer: help us spread the word with our weekend pop-ups. Sign up here.
For some tips to find the USACE reports on the USACE website, click here.
OTHER LETTERS TO RAISE AWARENESS:
YOUR POP UP BLOCKER MAY NEED TO BE DISABLED TO SEND EMAIL
OR, TRY IT ON YOUR CELL PHONE
Please click one (or all) of the links below to send an email to a representative requesting a MORE TARGETED and LESS DESTRUCTIVE approach to this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project .
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SAMPLE LETTER To County Supervisors Rich Desmond and Patrick Hume
To: RichDesmond@saccounty.gov
Cc: PatHume@saccounty.gov
Bcc: AmRivTrees@gmail.com
Subject: Please Insist on a Better USACE Proposal for American River 3B Project
Dear Supervisor Desmond and Supervisor Hume:
I am writing to ask that you and other Sacramento County officials persuade the US Army Corp of Engineers to perform a MORE TARGETED and LESS DESTRUCTIVE approach to Erosion Control Projects 3B and 4.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Contract 3B, extends east from Howe Ave, to the Mayhew Drain. USACE plans to bulldoze over 500 trees on the American River Parkway for “bank erosion protection”. The USACE claim that this protection is “needed” is based on minimal, overgeneralized “data”. I strongly question whether this work is necessary along this section of the American River.
Further, I believe the USACE approach to leave denuded, bare dirt banks for a minimum of 2 years during construction (and immature, isolated plantings for many more years to come) is just as likely to put us at risk in high water flows as no work at all. I strongly oppose the “brute force” bulldozing methods the Army Corps proposes along 4 more miles of the Wild and Scenic American River. We have yet to see how the bulldozed areas around Sacramento State University and Paradise Beach (parts of prior Erosion Control Projects), will fare in high water flows.
This new project, Contract 3B, would bring the total length of American River Banks damaged by the USACE erosion control projects to 11 miles. Almost half of the lower 26 miles of Parkway! I object to the extreme destruction of trees (including potentially 200-300 year-old heritage oaks); loss of rare, wild vistas and aesthetics in this pristine area of the Parkway; and the long-term loss of quality and access for recreation (hiking, biking, dog walking, fishing, picnics, kayak and paddle board access, bird and wildlife viewing, photography, and many other uses) for miles along the river’s edge, including the loss of dozens of unofficial, but much loved access trails, equestrian and rare shaded trails. These miles of habitat destruction threaten the wildlife corridor that is vital to sustain our astonishing urban wildlife (otters, owls, beavers, bald eagles, deer, migratory birds, and more) valued by recreational Parkway users. If erosion “spot fixes” are needed at some locations, then less destructive alternative methods should be used (such as in-place use of stabilizing vegetation, and bio-technical techniques, encouraged by the National Park Service), and the use of smaller equipment.
This and ALL future erosion control projects must be required to have a more targeted analysis and approach.
As you know, the American River is often called the “Crown Jewel of Sacramento”. Please do not let our “jewel” be stolen from us!
Sacramento Regional Parks officially manages the American River Parkway Wild and Scenic River status, and in turn answers to YOU in your role as county supervisors, as well as members of the SAFCA Board. I do not support the USACE claim that this extension and the methods planned are “needed” for flood safety in this zone; and it would destroy a vital stretch of the Parkway. I urge you to stand up for this special stretch of the American River Parkway, and to urge Sacramento Regional Parks to make a determination of “inconsistency” with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and impose strong conditions that require the Army Corps to find more targeted and less destructive alternatives, rather than the devastation that is being proposed for Contract 3B.
Thank you.
More Info
Heavy equipment staging in Larchmont Park (may destroy some of its trees), trails will be blocked, and haul trucks will go through neighborhoods and levees.
The huge heritage oak behind Rio Bravo is still not marked for saving! Irreparable losses of heritage trees will permanently affect our beloved American River Parkway, unless we speak up.
Continuous lengths of riverbank will be bulldozed for construction. Access requirements for large equipment to reach the water’s edge will destroy all trees in the way.
Help support the effort of re-evaluating the actual need for the project and evaluation of targeted methods like “spot fixes” and maintenance, use of smaller equipment, and especially the use of “natural armoring” by stabilizing vegetation and bio-technical techniques, an approach the National Park Service supports, but they need Sac Regional Parks to initiate the imposing of such a condition.
We need to insist that Sacramento Regional Parks impose that “condition” on USACE’s approach on our Wild and Scenic River.
Much of this stretch of the river is relatively straight, with modeling showing relatively low velocity at the levee even during high flow.
Concerns exist that these denuded, bare dirt banks for 2 years during construction (and with immature, isolated plantings for many years) are just as likely to put us at risk in high water flows as no work at all.
There is strong opposition to the “brute force” bulldozing methods that the Army Corps proposes to continue into this special stretch of the Wild and Scenic American River.
This and ALL future erosion control projects should be required to have a more targeted analysis and approach.
Help us support both trees AND flood protection.
SOME BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS
TV News! See these TV news clips:
WATCH A SHORT VIDEO ABOUT THE BEAUTY AT STAKE AND THE ISSUES WITH CONTRACT 3B:
Please help us protect and preserve one of the most pristine, wild and scenic sections of the Lower American River.
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(ARCHIVAL VERSION FOR PRIOR BACKGROUND: Feb. 2024 Project Flyer)
Handout of Contacts and Key Points (2-sided):
