Tuolumne River Trust

Dennet Dam Removal Effort

Karyn Carr — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:42:48 -0700

Dennett Dam no longer serves a function, and has been an in-stream partial barrier to fish passage for over 60 years. It has also been a navigation hazard to recreational boating through Modesto due to the powerful hydraulic forces associated with the concentrated overflow near the middle of the dam. This project will greatly improve safety for swimmers, boaters, and anglers who are currently at high risk near the dam, which has tragically been the site of three drowning deaths within the last five years, including two children.

Originally built in the 1930s to create a seasonal recreational lake, Dennett Dam partially failed during high flows within a decade of its completion. The Tuolumne River Trust's involvement has been not only building public, governmental and agency support for its removal, but also pursuing funding for the necessary planning, engineering, environmental studies, and construction necessary for removal. The Trust ultimately seeks to restore the river channel and enhance the surrounding landscape, resulting in a vastly improved native riparian habitat and recreational experience.

Complete removal of Dennett Dam would support extensive coordinated restoration efforts on the Tuolumne, which historically had the largest fall Chinook runs in the San Joaquin River system, by facilitating upstream access during the fall to prime salmon and steelhead spawning gravels between Basso Bridge and Old La Grange Dam (visible on our canoe trips), as well as downstream outmigration during spring high flows. Dam removal would also eliminate conditions conducive to native and non-native predator species that likely feed on outmigrating juvenile salmonids.

With the dam removed, Chinook salmon, steelhead, pacific lamprey, and river lamprey will have unimpeded access to 37 miles of upstream habitat. Central Valley steelhead is an anadromous fish listed under both the State and Federal Endangered Species Act, and Central Valley fall-run Chinook salmon and Pacific lamprey are anadromous species of concern or candidates for listing.

The dam is located just west of the 9th Street Bridge in Gateway Park (Modesto), which is part of the Tuolumne River Regional Park (TRRP). The Trust has supported development of TRRP and its associated trail system as part of the overall economic redevelopment of this Central Valley town. When completed the Tuolumne and Dry Creek trail system will stretch over 16 miles of scenic riverfront, providing Modesto with a fantastic amenity to its quality of life.

Removal would also complement efforts by the Tuolumne River Coalition to complete the Lower Tuolumne River Parkway, a mosaic of 25 park and habitat projects along the 52 miles of the Lower Tuolumne, and support development of a planned boat trail through this portion of the river.

To learn more about the Tuolumne River Trust's efforts to remove Dennett Dam, please contact Jesse Roseman at jesse.roseman@tuolmne.org or call (209) 236-0330.

Click here to view the Bay Area's KTVU coverage of this effort.

Click here to view an article in the Modesto Bee.

Paddle to the Sea PADDLERS BLOG

Karyn Carr — Wed, 12 May 2010 11:18:06 -0700

Track our paddler's journey from the Sierra to the Sea on our Paddle to the Sea 2010 Paddler's Blog.

CLICK HERE
to be linked to the Blog

Want to support our paddlers? Consider making a sponsorship donation today.
Click here to find out how.

Andrew Cushman, Brian Coggan, and Owen Segerstrom are going the distance - 241 river miles and 18 days. Show them your support by making a sponsorship donation to their team or by joining them on the River for a day of paddling or celebrating at one of the riverside events.

2nd Annual Silicon Valley Water Awards

Karyn Carr — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:55:16 -0800

Do you know water conservation greatness?
The 2nd Annual Silicon Valley Water Conservation Awards will be presented on World Water Day - March 22, 2010.

This year 7 categories will be considered:

Governement Agency/Water Utility
Business
Organization
Agriculture
Greenscape Management
Education
Multiple Benefit.

Nominations will be accetped from January 4 through February 26, 2010. Please go to http://www.waterawards.org for more information or to submit a nomination.

For additional information please contact Peter Drekmeier at (415) 882-7252 or peter@tuolumne.org.

Tuolumne River In The News

Karyn Carr — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:11:13 -0700

Do you know where your water comes from?
Paddle To The Sea draws attention to the Tuolumne River
Bay Area Green
July/August/September 2009

photo courtesy of Ken Mendoza

Click here for the full story...

Paddle to the Sea

Jessie Raeder — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:37:00 -0700

Join us for Paddle To The Sea 2010!
After the great successes of our inaugural year, we'll be including more paddling options, shorter day trips, bigger parties, and a have a few other surprises in the works for this year. We're getting ready to announce open registration and all of the details in the coming weeks, but one thing is for sure - Paddle To The Sea 2010 is sure to be another epic journey from the Sierra to the Sea, uniting and inspiring our communities to protect the Tuolumne River for future generations.

Don't miss the boat!
Mark your calendars for May 7 -June 5, 2010
(View the paddling and party schedule by clicking here)
Registration begins in February

If you'd like to be kept informed of all the details for Paddle To The Sea 2010, please send your email and contact information to Karyn at karyn@tuolumne.org Once you're on our email list you'll get the insider information on Paddle To The Sea including early registration announcements, and paddling and party details.

BECOME A PARTNER OR SPONSOR
Market your company and product to thousands of conservation-oriented outdoor enthusiasts throughout the United States! Click here for more details or contact Karyn Barnes at karyn@tuolumne.org or (415) 882-7252 ext. 304.

T-SHIRT DESIGN COMPETITION
Do you like to draw? Would you like to see your artwork featured on our official Paddle To The Sea 2010 t-shirt? Click here to find out how you can submit your artwork today.

PADDLE TO THE SEA INTERNSHIPS
Gain valuable experience all while having fun by becoming an intern with Tuolumne River Trust this spring. We're looking for 3 interns to help with event promotion and planning, marketing and communications, and river guiding. Click here for more information - resumes are being accepted now!

Paddle To The Sea 2009

For 3-weeks and 234 miles, 250 paddlers, 100 paddle-a-thon sponsors, and hundreds more party-goers came together to raise awareness and foster better stewardship for the Tuolumne and Clavey Rivers. After high River flows threatened to postpone the first two whitewater legs of the journey, our paddlers tackled the Clavey and Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River with bravado, kicking off the first ever Tuolumne River Trust Paddle To The Sea!

The journey began May 15 with a kick-off concert at Mountain Sage in Groveland; coursed through the Central Valley where there was a welcome party in Waterford, paddler dinners hosted by Royal Robbins, and Green on the Stream in Modesto; and concluded with great fanfare at the Grand Finale party at Aquatic Park in San Francisco on June 6. Old and new Tuolumne River Trust members alike gained a renewed zest for protecting and restoring this beautiful River, and helped to raise over $10,000 for Tuolumne River Trust program work!

Whether you paddled, volunteered, were a sponsor, or came to a party, thank you for participating in this great success for the Tuolumne River! We hope to see you all next time...

Scroll down to view photos and press from the event

Tuolumne River Field Class

Karyn Carr — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:50:03 -0700

The Tuolumne River: Ecology, Resource Management and Whitewater
A field course through UC Davis Extension

Dos Rios Ranch Aquisition

Karyn Carr — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:25:15 -0800

The Dos Rios Ranch aquisition and restoration project in Modesto includes over 1,600 acres of strategically located land where the Tuolumne and San Joaquin Rivers meet. Tuolumne River Trust is working to aquire this gem of a plot of land which, when the project is complete, will link the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge to the Lower Tuolumne River Parkway parks.

CLICK HERE to read more about this very important central valley project.

Photo courtesy of Douglas Steakley Photography.

Watch the "Clavey Reflections" Documentary on YouTube

Rebecca Cremeen — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:58:00 -0700

Watch the "Clavey Reflections" documentary to learn about the Clavey River and why TRT is working to protect this major tributary to the Tuolumne River:

Clavey Reflections Part 1.1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqSFt6znLEs&feature=related

Clavey Reflections Part 1.2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgjvT59iQsY

Clavey Reflections Part 2 "The Watershed Assessment":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-geHQgIyO0&feature=related

Job Openings at the Trust!

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:00:00 -0700

The Trust currently has 1 job opening:

Fall Canoe Trips Are Here!

Karyn Carr — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:54:52 -0700

CLICK HERE to view more information on our 2008 Fall Canoe Trips

Each fall as the leaves begin to show their color and the cooler air starts to fill the Central Valley the Tuolumne River Trust embarks on a series of fall canoe trips. This year we'll be offering two varieties; a shorter length, instructional canoe paddle trip and a longer, downriver adventure for those more comfortable with a paddle. Our trips begin in the town of La Grange and pass through prime salmon spawning ground, bald eagle habitat, and river otter playgrounds. It's a great way to get out into nature and see all the Tuolumne has to offer. This is a beautifully scenic stretch of the river that is rarely visited.

Instructional Paddles will take place on November 1st and 9th.

Full-Day Downriver Adventures will take place on October 25th and November 2nd.

Space is limited and spots fill quickly so CALL NOW to reserve your seat on the trip!

For more information please contact Carlos, Recreational Outreach Coordinator, at carlos@tuolumne.org or (916) 684-1891 or (209) 236-0330.