Misplaced Pages

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80-531: This northern section was deleted from the definition in the Streets and Highways Code in 2003, when the relinquished portion through downtown Sacramento was also removed, but it is still maintained and signed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as SR 160. State Route 160 begins in eastern Antioch at SR 4 as a four-lane freeway. After two interchanges, the highway becomes

160-649: A two-lane expressway and rises onto the Antioch Bridge over the San Joaquin River . It cuts north across the center of Sherman Island as a two-lane surface road, reaching the Sacramento River on the opposite shore. From here to Sacramento, SR 160 never strays far from the river, first following the east levee over the 1949 Three Mile Slough Bridge (a lift bridge ), past Brannan Island State Recreation Area , and across SR 12 opposite

240-477: A balanced, healthy ecosystem. Non-native, and sometimes invasive, species have been introduced to the American River ecosystem. These exotic species have no natural predators and combat with native species for sun, space, and nutrients, causing substantial problems for the native plant life and the entire bionetwork. The American River Parkway Foundation, in collaboration with Sacramento County Parks, manages

320-401: A full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions ). Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines; the start and end postmiles in each county are given in the county column. Downtown Sacramento Downtown Sacramento is the central business district of

400-559: A large Century Theatres multiplex cinema . The Sacramento Community Center Theatre is located on 13th and L Streets, and has regular performances by Broadway Sacramento, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra , the Sacramento Opera, and The Sacramento Ballet . The UC Davis Health Pavilion (known as the Wells Fargo Pavilion from 2003 to 2021 and Music Circus prior to 2003), located on 14th and H Streets, provides

480-524: A large dam on the American River by the late 19th century. During the 20th century, the American River was extensively developed for flood control, hydroelectricity production and irrigation. Folsom Dam is the primary flood-control facility for Sacramento. The numerous hydroelectric dams upstream on the Middle and South Forks are not constrained by flood control requirements; rather, the needs of electricity and water supply govern their operation. Folsom Dam

560-571: A mile (1.5 km) beyond the Freeport Bridge, SR 160 leaves the levee, enters the city of Sacramento (where state maintenance and control ends), passes under I-5, and farms give way to suburbs . Here the former SR 160 is known as Freeport Boulevard , a major surface road that passes the Sacramento Executive Airport and Sacramento City College . Freeport Boulevard turns to the northwest at about 4th Avenue. It

640-653: A northbound-only entrance ramp from Tribute Road are all that remains before SR 160 merges with Business 80 at the Arden Way interchange. Business 80 is also known as the Capital City Freeway here. The northern portion is also part of the California Freeway and Expressway System , as is the piece south of SR 12 near Rio Vista , though, of the latter, only the southernmost piece in Antioch

720-654: A safe route for colonizers across the Sierra Nevada. After a failed attempt to cross the mountains via the South Fork of the American River, Smith's group managed to cross via Ebbetts Pass on the headwaters of the Stanislaus River , becoming the first non-Natives to do so. In Smith's honor the Spanish settlers named the river Rio de los Americanos (American River). During this time, Alta California

800-551: A sharp curve northward to descend into Tahoe Valley. The South Fork has multi-use recreational areas, including the Rubicon Trail for motorized adventuring and whitewater rafting venues. The South Fork also features the historic town of Coloma , where the California Gold Rush began in 1848. Trout fishing and recreational gold panning are popular activities on the South Fork. The Silver Fork American River

880-452: A threatened anadromous fish species that have historically used the American River as a location for an important part of their life cycle while in freshwater. The American River, however, has lost some of its natural flow and riverbed because of water projects and diversions. The American River Salmonid Spawning and Rearing Habitat Restoration project, which started in 2008, entails the placement of gravel to provide adequate habitat conducive to

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960-401: A unique " theater in the round " live theater and musical experience. The historic Memorial Auditorium , at 16th and J Streets, holds many performances from comedy acts, traveling bands, and speakers. The Assembly Music Hall, located at 10th and K Streets, is a 200-seat venue, offering musical comedies in an upscale setting with table service. American River The American River

1040-605: Is 7 miles (11 km) downstream from Folsom Dam and helps to stabilize peaking power releases from Folsom Dam, and divert water into the Folsom South Canal for irrigation. Eight hydroelectric plants on the South Fork are operated by Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) as the Upper American River Project . These plants are fed by a series of reservoirs including Loon Lake , Ice House Reservoir and Union Valley Reservoir . With

1120-605: Is a 20-mile-long (32 km) tributary of the South Fork American River, that has its origin at Silver Lake The American River watershed crosses multiple climate zones due to the large range in elevations. The climate of the lower American River valley is Mediterranean and temperate grassland. Sacramento County in particular, where the main stem American River is located, is known for its cool winters and hot summers, with low average precipitation. The North, Middle and South Forks originate in alpine zones along

1200-683: Is a 30-mile-long (50 km) river in California that runs from the Sierra Nevada mountain range to its confluence with the Sacramento River in downtown Sacramento . Via the Sacramento River, it is part of the San Francisco Bay watershed. This river is fed by the melting snowpack of the Sierra Nevada and its many headwaters and tributaries, including its North , Middle , and South Forks . The American River

1280-640: Is built to freeway standards. The northern piece and the southern piece south of SR 12 are also part of the National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration . The entire southern portion, from SR 4 to Sacramento, is eligible to be included in the State Scenic Highway System , and

1360-606: Is equivalent to 1st Street; Broadway, which is equivalent to Y Street, and Alhambra Boulevard, which is equivalent to 31st Street. Included within downtown is the California State Capitol building, the house of the California state government . The major retail and entertainment area is known as the Downtown Commons (DOCO), which includes Macy's , the Sawyer Hotel, Golden 1 Center (home of

1440-559: Is known for the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma in 1848 that started the California Gold Rush and contributed to the initial large-scale settlement of California by White American migrants. Today, the river still has high quality water, and it is the main source of drinking water for Sacramento . This river is dammed extensively for irrigation, flood control , and hydroelectric power . The American River watershed supports Mediterranean, temperate, and montane ecosystems, and it

1520-400: Is officially designated as a scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation , meaning that it is a substantial section of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community. [REDACTED] In the late 1910s, Sacramento County improved the county road along the levee of

1600-414: Is the home of a diverse array of fish and wildlife. The Maidu , Miwok , Nisenan , and Wintun peoples have inhabited the American River area near present-day Sacramento for at least 5,000 years before Spaniards and colonial Americans arrived in the region; human habitation in what some consider present-day Northern California is believed to date back as far as 12,000 years. These tribes have utilized

1680-539: Is the longest tributary of the American River, at 88 miles (142 km). It begins at an elevation of about 7,900 feet (2,400 m) near Lake Tahoe in Placer County at Mountain Meadow Lake, just northeast of Granite Chief and immediately due west of Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) Ski Resort . It flows westward through remote wilderness areas. The North Fork and its tributaries provides one of

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1760-414: Is utilized for a variety of recreational uses. Locals and travelers alike use the river's scenic landscape for bird watching, hiking, biking, fishing, river rafting, kayaking, and more. The American River is a clean, biodiverse river that people can safely swim in and do other recreational activities in. The American River is specifically known for its whitewater rafting. The South Fork has Class III rapids,

1840-480: The 1964 renumbering . By 2000, the city of Sacramento maintained the non-freeway portion of SR 160 within the city limits under a contract with Caltrans. However, since Caltrans's main goal is to move traffic efficiently, the city was not able to carry out pedestrian-friendly projects that they and local residents wanted. Under a law passed in July 1999, Caltrans was authorized to relinquish any part of Route 160 within

1920-675: The Auburn State Recreation Area . The Western States Trail hosts multiple annual endurance events, including the Tevis Cup equestrian trail ride, and the world-famous Western States 100-Mile Trail Run, both beginning at Squaw Valley and leading to Auburn via remote wilderness trails. The South Fork is 87 miles (140 km) long. It originates at Echo Summit near Echo Lake south of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County , just south of where U.S. Route 50 makes

2000-638: The Elvas Freeway opened from the midpoint of the North Sacramento Freeway to the east side of downtown, and US 99E was moved off the south half of the older North Sacramento Freeway and onto the Elvas Freeway. The North Sacramento Freeway was included in the California Freeway and Expressway System when it was created in 1959, and the part of Route 3 southwest of the Elvas Freeway, which carried I-80 , became part of SR 160 in

2080-618: The Gold Line of RT's light rail. The return of streetcars to downtown is currently being evaluated in a joint effort by both Sacramento and West Sacramento . Interstate 80 Business (Capital City Freeway), California State Route 99 and U.S. Route 50 all converge into the downtown area, while Interstate 80 bypasses downtown to the north. Near the convention center are the Crest Theatre at 10th and K Streets, and an IMAX theater at 13th and K Streets. Downtown Commons also has

2160-531: The Golden Gate Bridge . Local businessmen Aven Hanford and Oscar Klatt replaced the toll ferry with the tolled Antioch Bridge in mid-1926, almost a year before they opened the larger Carquinez Bridge to the west. The counties of Contra Costa and Sacramento organized a joint highway district in November 1925 to fund an improvement of the northern approach from Rio Vista; the concrete highway

2240-499: The Middle Fork Project , whose primary reservoirs are situated at French Meadows Reservoir and Hell Hole Reservoir . The Middle Fork Project generates 1.03 billion kilowatt hours each year and also provides 120,000 acre-feet (0.15 km ) of domestic water supply. The American River Parkway is a 23-mile (37 km) stretch along the American River and includes about 5,000 acres (20 km ) of embankment between

2320-653: The Mokelumne Wilderness , where it meets the watersheds of the Mokelumne and Carson Rivers . Lands east of the American River watershed divide drain into Lake Tahoe , which flows into the Truckee River. During most years, a significant snow-pack builds up in the Sierra Nevada which provides water during the hot, dry summers. In warmer winters much of the precipitation may fall as rain instead, causing flooding, but resulting in lower summer flows due to

2400-562: The Nimbus Fish Hatchery and where the American River and the Sacramento River converge. The Sacramento County Regional Parks owns most of the land that is operated by the American River Parkway. This area serves the citizens of Sacramento and visitors from away with access to the river and parks, picnic areas, biking and jogging paths, trails for hiking, and habitat for fish and wildlife. Chinook Salmon are

2480-647: The Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association ), and a wide variety of dining establishments and retail shops. The recently renovated and expanded Sacramento City Hall is also located downtown. The Sacramento Convention Center Complex is a major events venue downtown. The recently renovated Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament located at 11th and K Streets. It is the largest historical cathedral west of

California State Route 160 - Misplaced Pages Continue

2560-474: The Sacramento River between Sacramento and Rio Vista , which crossed the river twice on free ferries near Paintersville and Isleton . A toll ferry across the San Joaquin River connected Sherman Island , south of Rio Vista, with Antioch , where drivers could head west through the Broadway Tunnel to reach the San Francisco Bay , but the road between Rio Vista and the ferry was poor. In 1922,

2640-553: The Sacramento River . Homeless Haven in the River District has a large homeless population. K Street , the city's former main shopping, dining, and entertainment street, was closed to all automobile traffic in 1969 as it was converted into a pedestrian mall. 42 years later on November 12, 2011, K Street was reopened to automobile traffic, but only for four blocks between 8th and 12th Streets. It remains off limits to vehicles between 7th and 8th Streets, 12th to 13th Streets, and

2720-709: The Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests . The North and Middle Forks join near Auburn , and continue downstream as the North Fork, although the Middle Fork carries a higher volume of water. The North and South Forks join in Folsom Lake . All three forks are known for their verdant canyons, forested ridges, massive rock formations, trails, back-country winter adventuring among snowy peaks, fishing and white water rafting . There are various fish species that live within

2800-487: The confluence with the Middle Fork American River at Auburn . Below the confluence, the North Fork continues several miles until reaching Folsom Lake. Both the North Fork and Middle Fork feature archaeological and historic sites of ancient Native American culture and 1850s Gold Rush habitation. The Middle Fork is 62 miles (100 km) long. It originates a mere 1.7-mile (2.7 km) from

2880-486: The 1923 Paintersville Bridge across the Sacramento River to the mainland, both bascule bridges. On the mainland, SR 160 once again runs atop the east levee, now 1–2 miles (1.5–3 km) west of Interstate 5 . The final bridge over the river is the Freeport Bridge, which carries County Route E9 to the west levee, where it turns south to return to SR 160 at the west end of the Paintersville Bridge. About

2960-546: The American River include: Native plants include: Historically, the American River, like many other rivers in California, were modified by the dams of beavers, until European trappers removed many of the beavers from their native habitat for their fur. Since the California Gold Rush was centered in an area that included the American River basin, it was one of the earlier California rivers to be populated, beginning at Leidesdorff Ranch, owned by William Leidesdorff . Water

3040-522: The American River such as Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout. The American River headwaters lie along about 50 miles (80 km) along the Sierra Crest from Mount Lincoln in the north ( 39°17′16″N 120°19′41″W  /  39.28778°N 120.32806°W  / 39.28778; -120.32806 ) where it adjoins the watersheds of the South Yuba and Truckee Rivers , to Winnemucca Lake in

3120-571: The American River to a standard signalized intersection was completed in August 2007; this improves access to existing and future development in the area, including redevelopment of a former rail yard , while slowing northbound traffic heading for the bridge and freeway. Another project converting Freeport Boulevard and 21st Street south of Broadway into two-way streets was also completed. 21st Street has carried northbound traffic since 1974, when Caltrans took it over. This will calm traffic while improving

3200-690: The Broadway Tunnel approach to the bay would bring him "over the Victory Highway to the end of his journey in such a fashion that he will never forget the view spread before him as he first comes into sight of the San Francisco Bay region". Two bascule bridges —the Paintersville Bridge and Isleton Bridge —replaced the free ferries in 1923, and are of a type patented by Joseph B. Strauss , who went on to design

3280-553: The Middle Fork has Class IV rapids, and the North Fork has Class IV spring run-off rapids. All three rivers also feature Class II sections. The areas with rapids still feature scenic views and wildlife, which is what makes it the most popular whitewater rafting location in California The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has issued safe eating advice based on levels of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyl for fish caught from

California State Route 160 - Misplaced Pages Continue

3360-467: The Sierra Crest and flow through subalpine, montane and temperate coniferous forests. In the foothills, oak woodland and grassland are dominant. The region is prone to seasonal drought conditions, as about 90 percent of precipitation falls as rain and snow between the months of November and April. Much of the Central Valley was historically wetlands and has extremely fertile soil; today,

3440-594: The South Fork. While they are not operated by SMUD, they depend on the releases from SMUD reservoirs to generate electricity. The El Dorado Irrigation District owns the Akin Powerhouse, and PG&E owns the Chili Bar Powerhouse. The Rock Creek Powerhouse is owned by Sithe Energies. The Placer County Water Agency operates five hydroelectric power plants on remote sections of the Middle Fork as

3520-652: The Victory Highway Association selected this "Netherlands Route" (through what was locally promoted as the "Netherlands of America") for the Victory Highway west of Sacramento, as it was both shorter than the Lincoln Highway route via Stockton and more scenic. In particular, the river district would "impress [the motorist] with the enormous productive resources of this state as well as supply him with an unmatched scenic drive", and

3600-472: The alignment that runs through the present-day Downtown Commons. In November 2012, the K Street Mall was rebranded as "The Kay", and now functions as a shopping area. Two half-block long pedestrian malls still exist in downtown, on 11th Street between J-K Alley and The Kay, and from The Kay to K-L Alley. The Sacramento Regional Transit provides light rail and bus service through downtown. Interstate 5 separates Old Sacramento State Historic Park from

3680-407: The city limits to Sacramento. The two agencies agreed, and on October 19, 2000, the portion from the south city limits to the American River became the full responsibility of the city. A 2003 amendment to the Streets and Highways Code erroneously deleted not only this part, but the North Sacramento Freeway as well. A project to convert the former southbound-only Richards Boulevard access just south of

3760-798: The city of Sacramento, California , United States. Downtown is generally defined as the area south of the American River , east of the Sacramento River , north of Broadway, and west of 16th Street. The central business district is generally defined as north of R Street, south of H Street, east of the Sacramento River, and west of 16th Street. The streets in downtown Sacramento use a numbered and lettered grid system. These lettered streets run north and south, and numbered streets are oriented as west and east. The exceptions to this include Capitol Mall and Capitol Avenue, which are equivalent of M Street; Front Street located in Old Sacramento, which

3840-626: The designation "Recreational River" under both the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1972) and the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1980). This status provides state and national recognition to protect the river's outstanding scenic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, and recreational values. The American River is fed by its North, Middle, and South forks, which are located in El Dorado County , Placer County , and Sacramento County . The river's three forks originate in

3920-446: The diversity of habitats and biodiversity by supporting protected native or endemic species that are listed as endangered or threatened. The American River Conservancy protects the American River watershed to preserve the cultural and historic values of the river systems and the landscapes surround them. They are also invested in keeping the American River for recreational activities as well as its natural scenic views. The American River

4000-637: The east side of the State Capitol grounds, which lie between L and N Streets. At F Street, the path of southbound SR 160 jogged west for three blocks to 12th Street; both 12th and 16th Streets pass under the Union Pacific Railroad 's Martinez Subdivision (where B Street would be) in four-lane subways , but 15th Street dead-ends. 12th Street remains a one-way southbound roadway, but the two-way SacRT light rail now occupies its east side. 12th Street turns northeast at North B Street, and

4080-431: The end of Route 3 near the State Capitol south to Broadway and Freeport Boulevard was Route 4 , which followed SR 99 towards Los Angeles .) Route 3 between Sacramento and Roseville was also part of the Victory Highway , and was marked as part of US 40 in 1928 and US 99E in 1929. The North Sacramento Freeway opened on October 6, 1947, bypassing this route from the bridge to Auburn Boulevard near Ben Ali . In 1955,

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4160-538: The exception of Folsom Lake, Union Valley is the largest in the American River watershed, storing 277,000 acre-feet (0.342 km ) of water. The Upper American River Project produces 1.8 billion kilowatt hours in an average year, enough for about 20 percent of Sacramento's electricity needs. The SMUD plants are run on a peaking basis, although recreational boating and environmental flow requirements constrain their operation slightly. A number of run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants are located further downstream on

4240-452: The expedition recorded the name as Rio de los Lagos (River of the Lakes) which may or may not have been an error, as in those times the area of the Central Valley surrounding the American River was home to vast marshes , which would have given the river the appearance of a series of lakes. During the 1820s, Jedediah Smith led an expedition to the American River with the goal of finding

4320-598: The indigenous population was wiped out. The surviving natives became hostile to exploitative European settlers and traders for quite some time, and prevented the HBC from establishing a permanent outpost here. In 1839, Swiss immigrant John Sutter established the New Helvetia settlement on the American River, near the present-day location of central Sacramento. In 1848, following the Mexican–American War , California

4400-472: The intersection at the south end of the former one-way pair , which the SacRT light rail now crosses 21st Street just to the north of. In addition, the three blocks of F Street that carried southbound SR 160 from 12th Street to 15th Street have been calmed by the addition of a roundabout at 13th Street. In 2012, SR 4 was re-routed to go further south to bypass Oakley and Brentwood. The southern end of SR 160

4480-558: The invasive plants on the American River. Fourteen environmental watershed groups are shown to be active in the Upper American River Watershed by the Adopt A Watershed Program of the U.S. EPA . The Upper American River Foundation is a prominent one. There are over 40 species of native and non-native fish in the American River, including: Wildlife in the American River basin includes: Invasive plants on

4560-515: The lack of snow. Due to California's highly variable weather patterns, runoff volumes in the American River can rise and fall drastically from one year to the next. Below Folsom Dam , the river passes through an urbanized area but is buffered by a riparian park, the American River Parkway . Containing fishing and family-oriented rafting, and paved bicycling and multi-use trails, it runs 30.6 miles (49.2 km) from Folsom Lake to

4640-604: The most biologically diverse habitats in North America. The North Fork features scenic multi-use trails along forested ridge-tops and riparian corridors. It flows freely as a designated National Wild and Scenic Rivers System river until reaching the North Fork Dam, which was built to contain mining debris. This dam creates the small Lake Clementine just north of the Foresthill Bridge and upstream of

4720-482: The planned upgrades was the road between Antioch and Rio Vista. (North of Rio Vista the present SR 84 was part of the system.) The entire length was included in the State Scenic Highway System in 1963. In the 1964 renumbering , the Antioch-Sacramento roadway was split between two routes: Route 84 from Antioch to SR 12 near Rio Vista , and Route 160 from SR 12 to Sacramento. However, the entire route

4800-500: The rearing habitat for the anadromous fish and increase biodiversity of the American River. The American River Conservancy works to conserve the wildlife and their aquatic and terrestrial habitats and resources around the American River and Consumnes watersheds. They have protected over 27,000 acres (110 km ) since their inception in 1989. The land they protect helps the American River water quality by conserving and restoring wet meadows , wetlands, and riparian areas. They conserve

4880-505: The river from Rio Vista . After passing Isleton , the highway crosses the river on the Isleton Bridge , a bascule bridge built in 1923, and runs along the west shore on Grand Island , where it meets the east end of SR 220 . The Walnut Grove Bridge carries County Route J11 east across the river to Walnut Grove , and, at the north end of the island, SR 160 crosses the 1924 Steamboat Slough Bridge onto Sutter Island and then

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4960-483: The river's confluence with the Sacramento River. The American River Parkway incorporates historic Leidesdorff Ranch, a 35,000-acre (140 km ) cattle and wheat agribusiness owned by the "African Founding Father of California." Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail , a meandering 32-mile (51 km) cycle path, hugs the river bank from Old Sacramento to Folsom Lake . The trail was named for Smith and his men, who camped and trapped along its banks in 1828. The North Fork

5040-458: The salmonid's needs for spawning and rearing to reach a maturity level fit for the ocean. From 2008 to 2012, the placement totaled 85,880 short tons (77.91 kt) of gravel. The gravel will increase the number of fish redds, spawning nests, along the American River, which will decrease egg retention, and increase birth and survivorship rate. The project also included the introduction of small islands, loose woody debris, and larger boulders to advance

5120-478: The soil. This large and extensive mining practice washed away entire mountainsides and heavily polluted all the waterways, including the American River, creating an environmental disaster for inhabitants, fish, birds, and other flora and fauna. During the Great Flood of 1862 the American River flooded massively, putting much of Sacramento under water for three months. Newly elected Governor Leland Stanford had to travel to his inauguration by rowboat; shortly after,

5200-582: The source of the North Fork on the south face of Granite Chief , between the summit and Emigrant Pass. It is characterized by somewhat broader steep canyons interspersed with reservoirs , waterfalls, and quiet riparian areas. The Middle Fork is used extensively for both motorized and non-motorized recreation, including fishing, white water rafting , bicycling (mountain and road), horseback riding, trail running and hiking. It contains areas used for hydroelectric generation, mining , and agricultural timber cultivation and harvesting. The Middle Fork features part of

5280-563: The state government moved temporarily to San Francisco. A significant contributor to the flood damage was the debris washed down by hydraulic mining, which had choked the river channel and reduced its capacity to drain floodwaters. In response, the city of Sacramento undertook a massive project to raise its streets and buildings as much as 9.5 feet (2.9 m). Many of original sidewalks and the first floors of buildings remain as subterranean spaces underneath today's streets. The lower American River has been one of seven California rivers to achieve

5360-407: The two directions of former SR 160 come together at Richards Boulevard, just south of the 16th Street Bridge over the American River and the south end of the state-maintained North Sacramento Freeway . The light rail, which crosses the river between the two directions of SR 160, soon leaves at the Del Paso Boulevard interchange as the freeway turns east. Two folded diamonds at local streets and

5440-463: The vast amount of resources of the American River for shelter, clothes, baskets, and other goods. Europeans and their descendants arrived in the late 18th century. The Nisenan call the river Kum Sayo , meaning ' roundhouse river'. Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga named the river Rio de las Llagas (River of Wounds) when he passed through the area in the early 1800s, perhaps due to hostile relations with local native peoples. Another member of

5520-453: The vast majority of wetlands have been converted to agriculture or urban areas. Most of the remaining wetland, riparian and aquatic ecosystems are restricted to the narrow corridor along the American River. There is an abundance of flora and fauna found at the American River that creates an immensely bio diverse ecosystem. Native plants along the American River Parkway are adapted to a Mediterranean climate, are drought tolerant, and help support

5600-399: The western edge of downtown. 15th and 16th Streets borders the eastern edge of downtown on a pair of one-way surface streets, both of which were formerly part of California State Route 160 . The historic Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station is located just north of Downtown Commons, and is serviced by Amtrak Capitol Corridor and three other routes, in addition to being the western terminus of

5680-550: Was built in 1955 as a principal part of the Central Valley Project by the Army Corps of Engineers, and is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The concrete and earth embankment structure is more than 5 miles (8.0 km) long and creates Folsom Lake , impounding 1.1 million acre-feet (1.4 km ) of water when full. The dam is a multipurpose facility that acts as a reservoir for flood control, irrigation, domestic and industrial use, as well as hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat. Nimbus Dam

5760-576: Was ceded to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo . Just weeks later, James W. Marshall , an employee of Sutter, discovered gold on the South Fork, starting the California Gold Rush . Although miners looking to extract gold worked all three forks of the American River, the South Fork held the richest deposits. As the easily accessible placer gold was played out, large companies used hydraulic mining to access gold buried deeper in

5840-406: Was completed in July 1927, creating a fully paved continuous route between Sacramento and the bay. The legislature added this road to the state highway system in 1933, and it became part of Legislative Route 11 , which had stretched east from Sacramento along US 50 . This part of Route 11 was not assigned a sign route number in 1934, but, by 1937, when the new Broadway Low Level Tunnel opened, it

5920-527: Was completed in March 2016. Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964 , based on the alignment as it (and State Route 84 south of State Route 12 ) existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary ( for

6000-481: Was formerly a one-way pair with 21st Street with Freeport heading one-way southbound and 21st heading one-way northbound. The city converted these streets back to two-way streets for traffic calming purposes in 2008. After a short jog west on Broadway, former SR 160 turns north on the one-way pair of 15th (southbound) and 16th (northbound) Streets, almost immediately crossing Business 80 and entering downtown Sacramento . 15th and 16th Streets lead traffic north past

6080-463: Was marked as SR 160, and in 1981 the legislative definition was changed to reflect this. The part of SR 160 through and north of downtown Sacramento began as part of Legislative Route 3 , which was added to the state highway system under the first bond issue, passed in 1910, and left the city on the 16th Street Bridge over the American River , following Del Paso Boulevard , El Camino Avenue, and Auburn Boulevard to Roseville . (The short piece from

6160-480: Was part of New Spain ; however in 1822, Mexico gained its independence from Spain and took control of California. In the 1830s, fur trappers of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) visited the area to trap beaver and otter. During one of these expeditions, smallpox or malaria were accidentally introduced to the local Native peoples, who had no immunity to European diseases. Some accounts suggest as much as 70 percent of

6240-604: Was part of Sign Route 24 . That route had initially begun at Woodland and traveled northeast and east through the Feather River Canyon , and was extended southeast from Woodland along Sign Route 16 to Sacramento and then south and west via Antioch to the San Francisco ;– Oakland Bay Bridge approach in Berkeley . The California Freeway and Expressway System was formed in 1959, and included in

6320-567: Was then extended south to cover the part of the freeway that is no longer designated as SR 4, from Main Street (where State Route 4 originally exited the freeway) to the fork of the new SR 4 (formerly known as the State Route 4 Bypass, or Bypass Road). In 2014, construction began at the interchange with SR 4 to complete the two remaining ramps that would link southbound SR 160 to eastbound SR 4 and westbound SR 4 to northbound SR 160. Construction

6400-487: Was used to drive grist mills . Gold miners dredged the riverbed and constructed diversion dams for hydraulic mining . Mining activity caused sediment and mercury waste to accumulate in the rivers. The Natoma Company completed its Folsom Powerhouse in 1895 and began delivering power 22 miles (35 km) away to the city of Sacramento to power a streetcar system. Major flooding of the Sacramento area led to calls for

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