How SARSAS Will Return Salmon to the Auburn Ravine, Part 4

Analysis of AR, Part 4, Rabe 11 05 09----- WHAT WE KNOW

A. We know there are a number of barriers on this section of the Auburn Ravine, some man made and some natural. There is a significant cataract beginning just above the Ophir tunnel. The Ravine flows underneath Interstate 80, underneath a portion of Old Auburn and emerges as a small stream in a beautiful restored park. We know our Mission envisions this as the last spawning area on the Auburn Ravine.

B. We know it will cost approximately $36,000.00 to do a feasibility study in order to determine if salmon and steelhead can navigate the cataract, and the remaining man made barriers along this section of the Auburn Ravine

C. We know water temperatures are adequate to support salmonid species. We know there are some resting ponds, some gravel beds suitable for spawning and during the winter, adequate flows to support both spawning and rearing of salmonids.

D. We have worked with NID and PG&E in order to assure adequate water during the October 15th to November 8 water outage each year. We know that PG&E has altered their ditch cleaning procedures and the result has been a superior flow during this year's outage compared to the past several years.
We know this has occurred due to the successful collaborative process SARSAS has developed and implemented.


SUMMARY----- We know that SARSAS has made a major difference regarding the fate of salmon and steelhead in the Auburn Ravine during the past one and one half years. Our collaborative process, highly effective volunteers, our strategic plan, to name a few have moved Auburn Ravine to the forefront in creating what is now likely to be the most successful project in the county. We know salmon and steelhead are returning, we know the tenacity of our drive will accomplish our mission.