With nearly $450 million invested in development projects so far, the River District is moving ever closer to realizing its potential for being a valuable transit, business and community hub for the Sacramento region. Business leaders, City Council members and members of the River District association gathered Thursday to hear the latest progress report on development efforts for 750 acres along a 2.5-mile stretch of riverfront that is currently residence to industrial, retail and office uses and about 400 homes. The event, hosted by the River District board of directors and attended by more than 80 people, was an opportunity to learn about recently completed development projects and get

The Grassroots Working Group (GWG) will be back before the County Board of Supervisors at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 9th, in the supervisor’s chambers at 700 H Street, Sacramento. For Grassroots, this will be the most important Board decision of the year.   The Board is considering whether to sponsor state legislation this year that would give the county the authority to place before the voters a 1/10 % sales tax for parks purposes (one penny for every $10 spent). The county is already authorized to place a sales tax before the voters, but not one this small.  Save the American River Association supports this.   The revenue from a sales tax must to go to a governmental agency. SARA believe

The endangered Delta smelt population has made strides to recovery, nearly doubling in population over the past year, according to California Department of Fish and Game officials. That population increase, however, represents a small percentage of its historical population, according to a Wednesday DFG press release. Since counting the fish to find exact numbers would be nearly impossible, DFG collects smaller samples and counts the number of fish in the samples to get an indication of the larger population. The average number of young Delta smelt per sample doubled from 3.8 last year to 8.0 this year, but is a far cry from the height of 39.7 in 1999. Adult Delta smelt also doubled th

The Sacramento City Council was asked to accept a feasibility study on new river crossings Tuesday night, but council members put off taking any action until they get an acceptable definition of a “neighborhood-friendly bridge.” The nine-month study was a collaborative effort between the city of Sacramento and city of West Sacramento that reviewed alternatives for new river crossings to improve connectivity between the two cities. But the study did not specify a particular design for the proposed bridges, and council members – and residents who came to the meeting to voice their opinions – were concerned that the end result would be a “commuter bridge” that floods residential neighborhoo

Residents know all about the perks of living in the capital city: easy access to the river, a lively downtown nightlife and great family-friendly attractions. They can also tell you the best place to watch a sunset. The Sacramento Press asked people where the best place to watch a sunset is in the Sacramento area and this is what they said. Ike Johnson, 59, Elk Grove resident and Hewlett Packard employee, said, “The best place to watch a sunset is overlooking the river. Right off Freeport Boulevard you can just drive down there and there is a good area where you can watch the boats pass by and then watch the sunset.” Chalena Alston, 22, a caregiver and recent college graduate living

Picking Up After Pets Makes Your Neighbors and Mother Nature Happier!   It may seem like a little thing, but leaving pet waste behind when walking your pet adds up to a big issue. Pet waste is responsible for up to 90% of all bacterial watershed pollution in urban areas of the U.S. When left behind, bacteria on pet waste can be washed away with rain, water from irrigation and other urban run-off and introduced to local waterways, degrading water quality and putting people and the environment at risk. E. coli is a bacterium found in dog waste, it has been linked to causing ear, eye, and stomach infections. Other pet waste bacteria are the sources of “staph” infections, salmonella, and para

Feeling lucky?  The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation (HOSF) is proud to present “Casino Royale on the River: Where Old Sacramento Meets Monte Carlo” aboard the Empress Hornblower at Old Sacramento’s waterfront on Friday evening, June 10, from 6-9 p.m.  With at atmosphere filled with excitement, guests will be immersed in a full casino experience on three decks brimming with fun, food, entertainment and adventure. Spirited guests are encouraged to arrive in black tie optional or historic attire and will be greeted by the Captain of the ship, music of the Gold Rush era and a glass of Sacramento’s new signature drink, The Gold Rush.  While enjoying a leisurely cruise up the Sacramento Riv

Early Saturday morning saw a break in the weather, so I headed for the swollen rivers with my 14-foot sit-in polyethylene kayak. Embarking at Sutter's Landing, I headed downstream to see what all the rain and water releases from the Folsom dam had done to the lower American and Sacramento rivers. The float took only ninety minutes with no hard paddling -- the current is strong and the waters turbid and brown. It was a solitary journey shared with only a few scattered fowl and plenty of flotsam washed loose from upstream shores. For those heartier souls it is a  worthy adventure.Wool socks recommended.

Sacramento City College's theater department, City Theatre, presents a program of eight short plays at the West Sacramento Community Center "Black Box" Theatre, at 1075 West Capitol Boulevard. The plays all center on Sacramento's iconic Tower Bridge, ranging from the historic to the fantastic. Because the City College's campus theater is currently undergoing renovation, they have moved their 2011 program to the "Black Box" Theatre, a new facility in West Sacramento. This location provides a most fitting setting for plays with this subject--chances are good that those who attend will cross over or pass within view of the Tower Bridge on the way to the theater. Eight playwrights composed s

Bridge maintenance difficulties abundant in Sacramento It’s no secret to the daily drivers in the Sacramento region that our local roads, freeways and even bridges have some less-than-perfect driving conditions. Any observant motorist can attest to this fact with their own experiences of avoiding potholes, deciphering sometimes illegible road markings, and bracing for strong bumps when crossing gaps between roadway segments. What may surprise you, however, is the staggering amount of data freely available to the public which, when drawn together, paints a dire portrait for the future of Sacramento roads. In a nutshell: There are many existing problems we know about, not enough money to p

A study to map out a streetcar route linking Sacramento to West Sacramento is expected to start this fall, according to city Transportation Department spokeswoman Linda Tucker. More than $400,000 in funding has been set aside for the study -- $310,000 from federal grant funds obtained earlier this year and $90,000 from local transportation funds, said Azadeh Doherty, a principal planner in the department. The current plan for the streetcar includes a path in West Sacramento, but does not lay out a route in Sacramento. Under the most recent plan, the streetcar would run from West Sacramento City Hall, across Tower Bridge and stop in Old Sacramento at the foot of the bridge. The city will

While on a scouting mission for an adventure race I was planning, I discovered a lovely Sacramento gem. Just north of downtown, I found myself walking the gangplank of what I’ve named the “USS Sacramento Dragonfly”. The “ship”, better known by its very ordinary name, the “Sacramento River Water Intake Facility” offers some of the area’s best river views, nature-inspired art and architecture all in one place and all for free. Longtime area resident, Merry Walle, said she knew there was an intake facility, but “had no idea that was so beautiful!” She also noted being “amazed at the wide and impressive causeway connecting it to the land”. Completed in 2004, the facility is moored by 300 st

I never really understood it before, but to live in Sacramento is to be surrounded by water.  That may sound ludicrous, but I have lived here most of my life, spent a lot of time by the water, but not until I saw more of the world did I understand how much water is a part of where I grew up.  The water around here either collects or seeps or flows into our space, and can be seen all around town and really anywhere in the region.  So I like water, I like spending time by it.  Even when I am out in a high desert, I will find water to be near.  Here in town, I will spend a lot of time by the water on a bicycle, fishing, or just standing. Lately, as I have been bicycle commuting, I have notic

18 year old George Ho went under the water and never surfaced at Tiscornia Beach in Discovery Park Sunday afternoon at the confluence. Jim Doucette of the Sacramento Fire Department,stated "at 2:54 PM, we responded to the beach at Discovery Park for an 18 year old male that went under and never surfaced." "Ho and his friends were swimming about 25 yards off shore. Some boats came by, created a wake, he went under and never came up" said Doucette. This occurred right where the Sacramento River and American River meet, the area known as The Confluence. Doucette stated that it is very deep there with a lot of logs and rocks. He further stated that in the past an abandon car had been found

The summer edition of the Sacramento Fire Department's Community Newsletter discusses the dangers of swimming in the river. It mentions that the river bottoms can be uneven and have steep drop-offs and the currents are strong, so a life vest should be worn at all times. Under the City and County of Sacramento ordinances, it is against the law for a child under the age of 13 to enter public waters without a life vest. Parents or guardians who do not put life vests on their children can be fined up to $500 and cited for a misdemeanor.  If you don't have a life vest on hand, there are plenty of places to borrow one. The following fire stations have life vests for the public to borrow: FI

Can you believe this warm weather?  Who would have thought that we would be warming up so quickly.  I was surprised to see divers and snorkelers on the Lake recently.  This type of weather always reminds me to ask about Scuba review or refresher classes. I know we are all safe when we are around the water, but it never hurts to be reminded about the past few years and the expectation that 6 or more people will not be with us, due to water related accidents.  I am a snorkeler and scuba diver, as are most of us who love to see in the water.  I can't get enough of the rivers and lakes we have access to around here.  Even the Delta feels good on a hot day.   Why a Refresher program you may a

So, two days ago, I took a quick shot from the I Street Bridge, upstream towards Discovery Park. This afternoon, during a break in the rain, I walked back up and took another. Not quite the same telephoto distance, but I do believe you can see some change in the height of the river. So, how weird would it be to have a levee break in the middle of a drought? 

 Sunrise Blvd Bridge

 AR Parkway, near Sunrise Blvd.

These were taken on a foot bridge, near the Sunrise Blvd overpass.