American, N. Fork, CA

River Description

Since the closing of the Auburn Dam diversion tunnel in late 2007, it is now legal to boat this section of river all the way through to the reservoir.   Boaters can now paddle past the infamous Auburn Dam site and enjoy the new rapids at the  new Auburn water pumping station.  The parking situation at the site of the new artifical play features remains unresolved with summer 2008 the expected opening date for park-n-play. Meanwhile the site can be accessed by putting in at the confluence of the North and Middle forks and taking out at Rattlesnake Bar.

Jeff Colteux reported on the cfsonline maillist.

"We had 4 amigos run the N. Fork American on Sunday (3-2-2008) to the tune of about 1400 cfs. .....
At the end of the trip in the parking lot we all agreed we liked this run. The new whitewater course is great at 1400cfs and Jeff W. says at 2,000 cfs just monstrous. The rapids below the whitewater park had enormous haystacks and a few noteworthy holes. The fun continued downstream with the only downer being the half hour paddle out at the end of the trip.  NO swimmers, soggy sandwiches, lots of great rapids, and more future paddling buddies. ....... Good news relayed by John Hauschild that the new takout at Oregon Bar should be operational sometime in April....."

Terry.Calif reported at Boof.com on 4-25-2008

"I found the play spot where the river channel was restored to be disappointing at 1250 cfs. The 3rd of
the 4 drops on river left had biggest surfable wave. Eddies were very small. Tongue over drops is shallow and very fast water. River right chute/channel by pump station had no eddies making
it impossible to catch the turbulent wave. The reconstruction seems to have been a missed opportunity.
Seems like designer had no experience kayaking or designed for a total different river level.
Access required put in at confluence and long paddle out to Rattlesnake Bar boat ramp in Folsom lake."

Other Information Sources: 

American River NF-MF Auburn Run (III).   river guide page at BRT insights.

Friends of the River

Read the Sacramento Bee article.

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/448426-p2.html

Watch it flow, a short video (mpg).

http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q...ewater%20Park/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10824556@N03/sets/72157603502003510/

SIERRA WHITEWATER, MARTIN, 1974