CURRENT SARA
LEADERSHIP
Officers and Directors
 
      Warren Truitt, President
      Kevin Regan, Vice President
      Jack Sohl, Treasurer
      Elke Guenter, Secretary
      Frank Cirill, President Emeritus
      Deborah Baron
      Wayne Chubb (CFFU)
      Bill Griffith
      Burt Hodges
      Jim Jones (past President)
      Mary Beth Metcalf, M.D.
      (Audubon Rep.)
      Jim Morgan
      Ken Press
      Felix Smith
      Alan Wade,
       (Immediate Past President)
 
HISTORY      LEADERSHIP      MISC.
 
SARA will be publishing various historical items for the benefit of newcomers to the area who do not know the history, and to show our great respect for all those who had the foresight to create what is now known as the “Crown Jewel” of the Sacramento County Park System.
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SARA ADVISORY COUNCIL SARA has recently established an Advisory Council, consisting of individuals with exceptional talents and experience to assist SARA in dealing with the 21st Century issues affecting the American River and Parkway. Areas of expertise include: environmental, water, habitat, legal, fund raising, promotion, management and government. The purpose of the SARA Advisory Council is to advise the SARA Board and President, individually and as a group, on matters of concern that are within the scope of SARA’s mission. In addition to being available for counsel, it is expected that Advisory Council members will initiate & introduce issues or matters of concern prompted by their own special knowledge, and to attend SARA Board meetings when matters within their interest and expertise are on the agenda. Advisory Council members will serve for 2 years. SARA Advisory Council Members are:   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY SAFETY COALITION
    Bob Hanna, Coordinator
 
SUPPORT SERVICES
             Wanda Denson - Exec. Assistant - Webmaster
              Betsy Weiland  - Volunteer Coordinator and
                                Liaison for ARNHA
            (American River Natural History Association)
                     Questions?  Please send an email to:
                              riverwatch@comcast.net
                                              or call:
                       Wanda Denson:  (916) 383-1298
 
Local calls will be answered as soon as possible.  If you call and reach a recording, please leave a message which includes your name, phone number or email address, and a brief message enabling your call to be directed to the appropriate person.
 
Board Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.  Visitors are welcome.  Call for directions
 
A LITTLE HISTORY ON JIM’S BRIDGE Jim’s Bridge, pictured above, is located at Lower Sunrise, just upstream from the old Fair Oaks Bridge, and was named for Jim Jones, a SARA Board member and long time Parkway advocate. (The photo is copyright protected) Jim’s persistent advocacy to save the bridge for walkers, fishermen, bikers and others is appreciated by the hundreds who use it everyday. Jim’s Bridge was originally called the PCA Gravel Haul Bridge and was built by Pacific Coast Aggregates sometime before 1950 to haul dredger tailings across the river from the Sacramento Bar to the rock crusher at Lower Sunrise. When the surrounding parkway land was purchased with money from the 1972 bond issue, (of which Jim Jones was co-chair) the County wanted to take out the bridge citing safety hazards and maintenance costs. Jim was chair of the Recreation and Parks Commission at the time, but was in the minority for saving the bridge, so he went directly to the Board of Supervisors and made the case for saving it -- which they did. The bridge has been under water several times during floods, the approaches have washed out and have had to be replaced, but the bridge is still standing, and provides pleasure for everyone, from fishermen to those who just want to listen to the water gurgling around the pilings and watch the sun set over the river. They named the bridge for Jim Jones, calling it Jim’s Bridge, in August of 1989, along with naming the park at the north end of the bridge Jim Jones Recreation Area (the wooden sign was cut down by vandals and has not been replaced), but there is a plaque mounted into a boulder at the north end of the bridge commemorating the bridge’s name. The inscription on the bridge is as follows: “Named in honor of Jim Jones whose love for the American River and fervor to protect it’s fisheries and flow levels greatly enhanced the river and parkway. When this bridge was no longer needed for mining activities, Jim fought to save it so that it could provide a recreational link across the river for the enjoyment of Parkway visitors. The Bridge was named “Jim’s Bridge” by action of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in August, 1989.” Sandy Smoley was the chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors at the time of the resolution, which says, in part......., “Whereas, Jim has been Sacramento’s strongest advocate for preserving the American River for twenty years, and........ Whereas, Jim’s volunteer efforts during those last two decades have preserved the magnificent American River Parkway for enjoyment by all present and future generations of Sacramento citizens,........” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memories of the Old Fair Oaks and PCA Bridges by Bob Brugger (The following article was printed in The Acorn, newsletter for the American River Natural History Association, in their November/December issue in 1998, and is shown here with permission of Bob Brugger.) One of the most pleasant memories of my childhood was the American River and the Old Fair Oaks Bridge. I grew up on the south side of the American River a very short distance from the Old Fair Oaks Bridge, the Pacific Coast Aggregate rock plant, and the old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, located near the present auto dismantling yard. I learned at an early age, from my family, how important a bridge is to a community. Our family had to cross the American River to go to church, the doctor, the post office, school and to get groceries. The bridge was also very important to my father, Frank Brugger, who was Superintendent of the Pacific Coast Aggregate Plant (PCA). The bridge was a crucial link for dispersing the aggregate products produced by his company. At that time there were only three bridges crossing the American River from Folsom to Sacramento. The Old Fair Oaks Bridge was our closest link to Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Orangevale, Roseville and the Loomis Basin. I remember my father telling me how the ranchers, farmers and merchants of Fair Oaks raised the money to build the original bridge. A portion of this structure still exists as the wooden approach to the current Old Fair Oaks Bridge, used by thousands as part of the American River bicycle and hiking trail. When I became old enough, during the first twenty years of my life along the river, I would cross the bridge almost every day to go to Fair Oaks for one reason or another. I loved to watch Elmer, the owner of the Old River Store, stand in the middle of the bridge every day and lower a bottle into the river on a rope to collect a water sample. He sent the sample to Sacramento County to be tested for water quality. I also remember the homeless squatters who came in at the Old Fair Oaks Bridge Depot and drifted to the river. Many of them stayed, because the area was so peaceful and beautiful, and built their tin and tent shanties along the south side of the river stretching from the Fair Oaks Bridge to Mississippi Bar. These old, single men were very nice and never bothered anyone. Once in awhile they would come to our back door to ask my mother for an aspirin or other minor medicinal items. During flood conditions my father would go and help them get their belongings out. Some of the old timers refused to leave and would stack their things on top of their shanties to wait out the high water. They lived there for many years until the development of the American River Parkway forced their removal. During the 1940s and 1950s swimming lessons for the youth in the area were held in the deep pocket of the river directly under the Fair Oaks Bridge which was referred to as the “old swimming hole.” There were no public swimming pools at that time so swimming instructors from Sacramento, possibly from the Red Cross, would come to the bridge to give lessons. We all knew where to show up for the lessons. Today, even though no vehicles are allowed on the Old Fair Oaks Bridge, it is probably busier than it has ever been. Along with the old Lonestar (PCA) Bridge, the two bridges greatly enhance access to the American River Parkway, offering a slow paced environment enjoyed by artists and photographers, and even used as an occasional Hollywood movie set. To stand and watch the river flow under the graceful arches of the Old Fair Oaks Bridge on its timeless journey to the sea is reminiscent of an earlier, more idyllic time of boyhood life along the river. I am very thankful these two bridges still exist. (Bob Brugger is retired and lives in El Dorado Hills. He grew up in a small house on South Bridge Street in old Fair Oaks. Bob’s father began working for Pacific Coast Aggregate Company in 1915.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NOTE: For the past 6 years or more, SARA has been trying to contact long-time SARA members with the express purpose of getting them together to reminisce and to honor them for their vision and wisdom in creating SARA and the American River Parkway. At our December 2, 2006 Annual Meeting, we were pleased to honor all those who could attend. One attendee who shared memories of early times in getting SARA established is Elmer Aldrich, who gave us a brief history of how SARA and the American River Parkway began. With Elmer’s story below, and another which was published in the March 1952 edition of The Observer, an Audobon Society publication, we begin to relate some of SARA’s history..... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elmer told us this story: In the late 1940s, Elmer joined the State Parks as Conservation Supervisor. He said that a renowned planner and landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., had been hired to conduct studies to help guide the direction for State Parks for the post-war period. Elmer and others attended meetings with Mr. Olmsted and learned that he already had emphasized the importance of some kind of protection, including a parkway for the “Sacramento River and its Tributaries.” Olmsted Jr., is the son of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., the designer of Central Park of New York. Also at that time, those connected with State Parks, in looking to the future, studied a number of early proposals for protection of the American River. Some of those proposals dated back as far as 1915, when John Nolen, a Town Planner, outlined, in general, the possibility of a parkway. A search was made for all previous proposals for the protection of the Sacramento and American Rivers. This was a period when State Parks was under great public and political pressure to do something to stem the burgeoning demand for outdoor recreation. As usual, this type of demand brings on the nightmare of all park administrators whose parks include some beautiful natural scenery. The critical question was, “How can you achieve the best acceptable balance when every proposed recreation development removes some of the natural values?” You can always remove or replace unwanted developed facilities, but it may take 100 years to restore the original natural scene! As in the American River Parkway, this conflict was rampant as late as in the 2006 Parkway Plan. During the earlier period, State Parks wisely decided to initially put its resources into acquisition of desirably areas such as Coast, Desert, Redwoods and Sierra that were threatened with rapidly advancing urbanization. Bond acts were achieved to accomplish much of these, with some of the funds allotted to local projects. State Parks opposed taking over Folsom Lake, and felt that it was a Federal Project and should be operated by them. The final decision was decided politically. In the late forties and early fifties, there was growing public pressure for more outdoor recreation which precipitated a counter movement to preserve natural areas. As this conflict grew, no agency of government stepped forward to take on the responsibility. State Parks leaned toward acquiring area of natural and historic importance and leaving the more urban, high density, regional type recreation to the responsibility of local governments. Some of those connected with State Parks were dismayed that the care for the American River was “falling through the cracks” among levels of government. Elmer became active in the newly formed chapters of the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society. There he found groups of people with equal concern for the river. After a number of informal meetings, it was decided to organize, to seek an agency to assume the responsibility for accomplishing a Parkway. To do this in 1950, “The River Recreation and Parks Association” (TRRPA) was formed. The objectives were bigger than just the American River, and park status was sought along the Sacramento River as well. Because the users of a Parkway would go beyond county boundaries, it was felt that responsibility should be multi-county in nature. The group explored the highly successful multi-county East Bay Regional District, and their Chairman worked with The River Recreation and Parks Association to develop a strategy for a special district. Finally, with the help of an attorney, they presented their proposal to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. Elmer said the Supervisors were very complimentary and agreed that something should be done, but they flatly rejected the idea of a special district! The Board of Supervisors then directed the efforts of The River Recreation and Parks Association to the Planning Department, asking it to come up with steps to accomplish the goals of TRRPA, who then made the same presentation to the Sacramento City Council with the same results, but who agreed to discuss the proposal with the County. Elmer said that TRRPA continued to follow the County’s progress in establishing the Parkway, and “we gave up the idea of a special district because we had assurances that things were moving in the right direction. We were pleased that the County finally agreed to form the Parkway and other organizations came along to assure its protections! Dominant in this effort were Staff members of State Parks, Audubon, Sierra Club, and SARA.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  © jim jones
A LONG-NEEDED PARK SYSTEM FOR THE SACRAMENTO REGION by Elmer Aldrich (This article was originally printed in “The Observer” in the March 1952 issue publication of the Audubon Society) Persons in the Sacramento region interested in natural things are particularly fortunate. A few short Sunday miles to the east lies the great Sierra with its vertically arranged zones of plant and animal life. Between the Pacific and Sacramento are the rolling Coast Ranges, adorned biologically much differently than the Sierra. Though both ranges differ widely, they share something in common -- in each there is at least part which remains in its original native state. North and South of Sacramento lies a picture more altered in nature. The most that remains of the original scene is a broken and threadlike line of vegetation of the native type bordering the major river courses. Superb agricultural characteristics of this region have taken unmitigated precedence over preservation of natural values. In California, since the war, there has been more pressure levied on the factors making up the landscape. This has manifested itself in many aspects such as: tremendous pressure upon wildlife through increased numbers of hunters and fishermen; improved and expanded agricultural and logging methods; and an alarming tourist trade. It is the tourist, and those that seek outdoor recreation, that can either be one of the best or worst influences in preserving a few remaining bits of California’s native landscape for those who are truly interested in natural things. Organizations such as the Audubon Society have done much to help in the preservation of natural areas, on a national scale. A lot of this has been done by their staunch support of governmental agencies and other conservation groups that are set up to administer such areas. We have in the Sacramento region a perfect stage setting for a conservation project of note. Sacramento at the apex of two great river courses is perhaps the only city of its size in the country that has not developed them into parks or at least made them available for public use. Approximately six months ago a civic-minded handful of citizens met in the County Court House and decided to do something about making plans for developing natural type parks along the rivers. This group, now known as The River Recreation and Parks Association, is soliciting support from all local clubs and civic groups. Briefly their three-point program is this: 1. Promote development of areas along the rivers in city ownership. 2. Promote the acquisition and development of river recreation areas by the State, and, 3. Promote the establishment of a Regional Park District. This enterprising group has roughly selected its territory as lying along the Sacramento River from Verona to Rio Vista and along the American River from Folsom Dam to the mouth. The Association’s basic desire is to see an integrated park system covering this area with developments connected by a parkway, a scenic drive. One of the first moves of the group was by resolution to ask the State Park Commission to conduct a survey in this vicinity indicating areas desirable for inclusion in the State Park System. The new planning unit of the State Division of Beaches and Parks has made progress in this regard. A report will soon be completed, and probably will recommend acquisition of considerable frontage north of Sacramento and an area along the American. $200,000 has been allocated from the State Park Fund for purchase of areas on the Sacramento, American and Feather River drainages. Each dollar spent by the State must be matched by a dollar or land of equal value from other sources. This principle make mandatory the interest of the project by the local people. The creation of a Regional Park District requires 5000 signatures to place the item on the ballot and a successful vote of the people. This District, if established, will provide, through a very nominal tax rate, the money to protect and develop attractive areas situated between the State and City owned property, and would be responsible for the parkway. The all important District will need the full support of local organizations in obtaining signatures and in publicizing the project to insure its success on the ballot. To those who think that this type of development is an idle dream, they need to turn only as far as the San Francisco Bay area. There they will find a beautiful Regional Park System featuring the full gamut of outdoor recreation: hiking, riding, camping, picnicking, boating, swimming, scenic driving and interpretation of natural history. Bob Sibley, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the East Bay Regional Park District feels that Sacramento is a “natural” for a similar project. Think what a boost it would be to the schools and to all interested in nature study to have access to much of the river frontage! This crusade will not be a new idea -- it has been thought of many times. Waiting, however, makes it increasingly difficult to accomplish the purpose. In the last few years residential subdividing of the cream of the river frontage is a real threat towards ever securing an integrated park system for public enjoyment. The River Recreation and Parks Association has no pride of authorship on this project -- on the contrary, it seems to spur on other organizations and individuals to bend every effort toward the common goal. It can’t be won otherwise. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   © jim jones
© jim jones
 © jim jones
SARA - SAVE THE AMERICAN RIVER ASSOCIATION, INC.
INCORPORATED IN MARCH, 1961