(SACRAMENTO, CA) –Today, Assembly Bill AB 1716, which establishes the Lower American River Conservancy Program successfully passed the legislature and is on its way to the Governor.
“The Lower American River and the Parkway is the jewel of our community. This new program will assist us in ensuring that we can continue to improve access while at the same time protecting this natural resource and preserve the surrounding habitat for future generations,” said Assemblymember McCarty upon passage of the bill.
“My wife loves the parkway and rides in it almost daily,” said Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova). “As a Rancho Cordova Councilmember I championed its preservation, believing in Henry Thoreau’s dictum, ‘In wilderness is the preservation of the world.’ This bill carries this great ambition forward and makes its funding more secure.”
The American River Parkway encompasses 5,000 acres of riverfront accessible by bikers and pedestrians. State conservancies provide a framework for allocating state funds to enhance and protect natural lands and waterways. Since 1996, of the $740 million of state bond and general funds allocated to rivers, $660 million has gone to rivers with state conservancies however, the American River has only received $3 million. By establishing the Lower American River Conservancy, the river will be eligible for additional state resources.
AB 1716 is now on its way to the Governor to await his signature.