|
 The
American River Paddle Safety day held on July 19th was a giant
success thanks to the volunteers who generously donated their
time to instruct the enthusiastic river participants in the
safe use of paddle boats on the North Fork. For many, who
took advantage of the free use of equipment provided by Sierra
Outdoor Center, Canyon Raft rentals and PARC members, this
was their first opportunity to paddle on the river. Participants
were able to leisurely paddle on the pool beneath No Hands
Bridge or shoot the rapids near the Highway 49 Bridge. Looking
to the future when the dam tunnel is closed and the river
is restored to its natural channel at the dam site, CA State
Parks plans to inaugurate a volunteer river paddle patrol
in the proposed Confluence Parkway. Future paddle safety days
will become important opportunities to learn more about safe
boating, Auburn State Recreation Area regulations and river-canyon
ecology. Special thanks to PARC members Roger and Sue Groghan,
Thomas Toy, Andrea Rosenthal, Lore Roberts, Bill Wauters,
Tony DeRiggi, Daren O'Conner and Bret Castle and Canyon Keepers
Penny Watson, Sid Stoffels and Linda Wood for making this
a safe fun day for the community.
Auburn State Recreation Area Canyon
Keepers Finish Fifth Year
With a member working at the top of the road leading to upper
Lake Clementine on Sundays and two members at the Confluence
each weekend, The Canyon Keepers will wrap up their fifth season
the end of September. With the help of about a dozen new members
this year - including several from PARC - the group again conducted
a Jr. Ranger Program at the confluence for youngsters 7-11 years
old. The self-guided historic bridges/nature trail to the Mountain
Quarries RR Bridge and Clarks Hole will soon be completed with
the installation of heavy-duty metal station markers constructed
by Rich Ferreira and PARC. Canyon Keeper members have been leading
public tours along this route during the year. Thanks to Rod
Gross, eleven detailed guides to trails within the Auburn State
Recreation Area are now available in richly formatted Adobe
Reader Format on the Canyon Keeper's Web site; at ASRA headquarters
and at the California Visitors Center on Lincoln Way. Finally,
historian and member Terry Cook, the new Placer County museums
curator, redesigned the displays for the State Parks Kiosk at
the Confluence, (which was vandalized a year ago.)
The celebratory year end Canyon Keeper picnic dinner
will be held once again on the No Hands Bridge. Interested PARC
members are invited to join the group at about 4pm on Sunday,
October 19. Call Canyon Keeper social chairperson (and ASRA
secretary) Danielle Fisher at 885-4527. |
