PROTECT AMERICAN RIVER CANYONS

Imagine the North Fork American River Wild & Scenic Forever: See the video
See some of PARC's upcoming and recently completed events below

PARC announces winners of scholarships

Protect American River Canyons 2013 High School Essay Contest Winners have been selected.

1st Place, $500: Kellyn McDonald, Placer HS
2nd place, $250: Garrett Michael Jordan, Placer HS
3rd place, $250: Toby Kugar Qualls, Placer HS
4th place, $100: Kristen Meadows, Rocklin HS
5th place, $100: Jedidiah Garcia Dowell, Golden Sierra HS

Due to the unexpected number of excellent essays, PARC added 3 more scholarship winners for a total of $1200 in scholarship funds this year.

Prizes were presented to the 3 top winners at the Confluence.
From left to right: Garrett Jordan, 2nd Place, $250, from Placer HS, will be attending Cal Poly SLO; Kellyn McDonald, First Place, $500, from Placer HS, will be attending Gonzaga;
and Toby Qualls, 3rd Place, $250, Placer HS, will be attending UCSB.
All 3 talked about their personal connection with the canyons and each read their essays which were recorded for broadcast by Mary West from KAHI radio.

The students wrote outstanding and inspiring essays on the question:
"What do the American River and its canyons mean to me and my community, and what should be done to protect them for future generations."

The students shared their family and personal connections to the River Canyons, which often included hiking, rafting, jogging or fishing experiences. They explained how the canyons are important to our local community and economy, and offered suggestions for protecting the canyons for future generations. Their ideas included promoting river stewardship education of youth, such as training Youth River Ambassadors, and obtaining Wild and Scenic Protection for the Canyons.

Click here to read these fine, award-winning essays.

Please help ensure that PARC will be able to offer scholarships to more of our deserving local students next year by making a
tax-deductible contribution to the PARC Scholarship Fund.

American River Guide Book Revisions Close to Being Completed

Looking for the most up-to-date recreational and historical information on the Auburn State Recreation? PARC is working to revise and update its American River Guidebook, first published over 20 years ago. A color natural history chapter, with illustrations by John Muir Laws, new canyon trails chapter with contributions from the Canyon Keepers, mile-by-mile whitewater descriptions and up-to-date access information will be featured in the revised new edition. Mystic Design's Laurel Mathe has redesigned the book format making it easier to access specific information on the river and canyons. PARC expects the guidebook to be published by Sierra College Press and ready for distribution in Spring of 2013.

Rock Spyders Return to Cave Valley

After a nine-year ban on rock climbing in the Auburn SRA, in September 2012 Climbing Resource Advocates of Sacramento, CRAGS, put in the successful bid to reopen the Cave Valley Rock Climbing Area in the Limestone Quarry on the Middle Fork of the American River. The area is open for year round climbing Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Read More

Imagine the North Fork American River Wild & Scenic Forever

Protect American River Canyons is pursuing State Wild and Scenic designation for the sixteen mile stretch of the North Fork American River, from Iowa Hill Bridge in the Mineral Bar area of Auburn State Recreation Area, to upper Lake Clementine. State Wild and Scenic designation will help protect the natural resources and recreational opportunities on this stretch of the river.

See more about Wild and Scenic designation for the North Fork American River

 
PARC Handout, WILD & SCENIC AMERICAN RIVER
Unlocking the Economic Potential of the Auburn State Recreation Area
Download

Cover, WILD & SCENIC AMERICAN RIVER
Unlocking the Economic Potential of the Auburn State Recreation Area
Download

Some of the recent events PARC has participated in include Paddle Safety Day,
Fall American River Cleanup Day, the Auburn Community Festival,
and the American River Confluence Festival.
See photos below.

Photos from PARC’S ANNUAL FALL Paddle Safety Day & Junior Ranger Activities on Sunday, September 30, 2012 at Upper-Lake Clementine. The community was able to try out a variety of river, lake and ocean boats for free at Upper-Lake Clementine. PARC participates in this event twice a year, along with Auburn State Recreation Area, ASRA Canyon Keepers, Sierra Outdoor Center and Canyon Raft Rentals.

PARC participates in the American River Cleanup twice a year, in Spring and Fall. This year the Annual Fall American River Cleanup was on Saturday, September 15. During the Fall, PARC partners with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, which sponsors river cleanups throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, as part of the Great Sierra Cleanup. The American River Cleanup is a river-wide cleanup that focuses on the popular Confluence Area. The event was co-sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the Auburn State Recreation Area rangers and staff, the Canyon Keepers, Recology Auburn-Placer, and PG&E.

Rex Maynard preparing dangerous metal for removal from the river during the 2012 Fall American River Cleanup.