Diving will no longer be allowed at the Clay Banks area of the American River near Rancho Cordova after recent drownings, Sacramento County officials said.
“This decision was made earlier this week, following the third drowning in the area this summer,” county spokesperson Ken Casparis said in an email. “While drownings have occurred in this area in past years, it is unusual and startling that there have been three this summer.”
The three drownings happened to victims who jumped off the clay banks and were not wearing life jackets, officials said. The latest incident came last Saturday when Kelvin Manabat Felarca, 32, was found 100 yards downstream from where he went underwater, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. Felarca’s body was found by the Sheriff’s Office dive team.
“We’ve had signage but needed to take another step,” Casparis said.
Jeramie Mendoza, left, and Tracy Williams sit on their paddle boards in the water near the clay banks along the American River in Rancho Cordova on Friday. “I’m bummed because I love jumping off the clay banks. It’s so much fun. It cools you off,” said Williams about the new signs prohibiting jumping or diving in the area. “This is like the first year there’s been that many deaths, and it’s just, like, I know they have to do something, so it’s a bummer but I get it.” Bailey Stover bstover@sacbee.com
Wendy Lambert takes a photo of the new signs near the clay banks along the American River in Rancho Cordova on Friday. Lambert, who is a volunteer with the American River Bike Patrol, said she cycles almost every day and visits the area frequently. Bailey Stover bstover@sacbee.com
Davis Bryant, 15, fishes from the Clay Banks along the American River in Rancho Cordova on Friday, the day the county prohibited jumping and diving at the location. Bryant, who is from the Bay Area, said he has enjoyed jumping off the banks in the past. Bailey Stover Sacramento Bee file
This story was originally published August 9, 2024 at 2:44 PM.
Chris Biderman covers sports and local news for The Sacramento Bee since joining in August 2018 to cover the San Francisco 49ers. He previously spent time with the Associated Press and USA Today Sports Media Group, and has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Athletic and on MLB.com. The Santa Rosa native graduated with a degree in journalism from the Ohio State University.
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