The American River and How to Keep it Flowing
The American River is one of the hardest working rivers in California. It also continues to be one of the most fought over rivers in California, as shown by two major threats to divert more water from a river that is already overtapped: El Dorado Irrigation District’s attempt to divert water from upstream of a world class stretch of whitewater—against their own word—and El Dorado Water Agency’s so-called “Water Reliability Project.”
The American River is, in many ways, the quintessential “California river.” Flowing West out of the Sierra Nevada, the American River watershed drains nearly 2,000 square miles before reaching Sacramento. It supports a major city – indeed, the capital – as well as communities upstream, agricultural regions, recreational interests, and a rich, biodiverse ecology.
The American River is used to generate electricity in the upper watershed, serves the needs of residents along all three of its major forks, and is a major tributary of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.
Threat #1: Taking Water from Upstream of an Important Recreational Section—Going Back on the Deal
El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) is the primary water purveyor in El Dorado County. While the agency is primarily responsible for surface water deliveries and infrastructure (often in tandem with El Dorado Water Agency), they also own some of their own water rights. One of these is Water Right Permit 21112 (P21112). Under P21112, EID is permitted to divert up to 17,000 acre-feet of water per year (afy) from the South Fork American River. (Imagine a football field with 17,000 feet of water on it!) However, they currently take this water from Folsom Reservoir. This restriction was put in place more than two decades ago in order to prevent further degradation of the South Fork of the American. By requiring that P21112 water be diverted downstream at Folsom Reservoir, the water right ensured that this water was allowed to flow down the lower reaches of the South Fork – including one of the most significant whitewater recreation stretches in California.
Now, EID wants to modify P21112 to authorize a new point of diversion at Kyburz – nearly 50 miles upstream from Folsom Reservoir and upstream of the recreational section of the South Fork American. Under the proposed changes, EID would be allowed to divert up to the same 17,000 afy high upstream, reducing flows in the river and impacting downstream users.
This proposed change has the potential to cause serious impacts including:
Reducing flows in the Lower South Fork and a reduction in days that whitewater recreation is possible
Subsequently impacting the local recreation-based economy
Encouraging the transfer of water outside of El Dorado County
Encouraging shortsighted growth and development in undeveloped parts of El Dorado County
In August of 2025, Friends of the River, alongside a coalition of other organizations, submitted comments on EID’s Draft Environmental Impact Report, highlighting the inadequacies in the environmental analysis , as well as pointing out where greater mitigation was needed to protect both the watershed and local communities. EID is expected to release their final report by the end of 2026.
Threat #2: “Water ‘Reliability’ Project” – A.K.A. “The Expansion Plan”
El Dorado Irrigation District (EDWA) is the primary water rights holder for El Dorado County. With a goal of providing adequate water resources to county residents, businesses, and irrigators, EDWA manages and obtains water rights that are generally delivered via EID’s infrastructure. However, EDWA is currently seeking a new water right for 40,000 afy to serve a population that does not yet exist.
This plan is part of what EDWA is calling the “El Dorado Water Reliability Project.” As described in project planning documents, the Project is designed to meet the water needs of population growth projected in the County General Plan. This plan calls for new water rights to be obtained on the order of 60,000 – 86,000 afy. In other words, EDWA’s current application for 40,000 afy is less than half of what they ultimately hope to acquire. That is a MASSIVE amount of water, particularly when considering the existing pressures on the South Fork of the American. Despite the misleading name, this project is not about improving reliability; is explicitly about expansion. Not only that, but EDWA currently has no infrastructure to deliver water to these hypothetical customers, nor do they have any concrete plans to build any.
It goes without saying that to remove this much water from the South Fork could have devastating consequences:
Less water = unhealthy rivers. Diversions of this scale could cause significant loss of river habitats in the upper watershed, as well as throughout the South Fork of the American River. This project would increase the strain on an already over-tapped river, and negatively impacts fish and river-dependent wildlife in the South Fork corridor.
Less water = reduced recreation. The South Fork American is California’s premier whitewater river and supports one of the largest commercial rafting economies in the country. It is also visited by thousands of private boaters and other recreationists each year. Less water in the river means reduced recreational values and the potential for decreased local tourism.
It incentivizes bad development. This project is explicitly about expansion. The additional water sought by EDWA would provide the basis for continued expansion of suburban sprawl and commercial centers into El Dorado County, thereby increasing future demand even further. Additionally, this expansion is planned in parts of El Dorado County that are at especially high risk of wildfire.
Reduces Downstream Water Reliability. The proposed diversion could significantly impact water availability for downstream water users below Folsom Reservoir, including for critical flows on the Wild & Scenic designated Lower American River.
EDWA published a Draft Environmental Impact Report for this project in October of 2024. Friends of the River, alongside a coalition of other organizations, submitted comments highlighting numerous inadequacies and questioning the project’s ability to meet explicit Water Code requirements. EDWA is expected to release a final report in early 2027, amidst backlash from other water agencies, local communities, downstream water users, recreational interests, and environmental advocates.
Friends of the River is a Sacramento-based organization dedicated to protecting rivers and watersheds across California. Occasionally, these fights strike even closer to home. The American River watershed is indeed one of the most important in our state. It is also FOR’s home river. Stay tuned for updates on both EID and EDWA’s projects and to learn more about what FOR is doing to protect the places you love.
