The American River Water Education Center opens its school house and center doors to the general public.

Plans for a Grand Opening in May of 2008 are underway.

The site has already been host to many visitors, schools, special interest groups and volunteer camaraderie.

October 23, 2007

Staff is ready to greet the general public and student field trip programs to the new site of the American River Water Education Center in October.

The garden is equipped with identification labels for water conservation and California native plants.

Staff teaches the importance of Folsom Dam while doing a program at Beals Point.

September 27, 2007

ARWEC volunteers assemble for their first glimpse of the newly relocated center.  Training for revised programs for visitors has begun. 

A short scenic walk along the bike trail from the school house to the amphitheater is a nice addition to our grounds.

Truck loads of plants are waiting for their new home in the ground around the American River Water Education Center.  

September 9, 2007

The construction crew completes the entry patio to the American River Water Education Center in August.

Sidewalks and irrigation areas are near completion while the new garden plans come together.

Just along the bike trail is the future site of the picnic area. 

August 15, 2007

The concrete patio around the Water Education Center has been poured. If you look closely, you can see a Sun stamped into the concrete. Staff and volunteers look forward to teaching students how important the sun is in the water cycle.

Our very own boss takes on a “dirty job” by yanking out the old toilet exhibit. We look forward to having a fresh new center and exhibits to share with students and the general public.

Steps and concrete have been poured in our new amphitheater with boulders set in the floor. The surrounding trees and shade structure will make for an inviting learning area.

July 25, 2007

The new cover at the center entrance is now complete.   Perfect to shelter our visiting students and general public in October.

Grading is still going on with the intention of concrete pouring next week. 

The plants that were dug up by volunteers in the Spring are doing well in their temporary home.  Soon a garden party will be scheduled to replant them in our new site.

July 10, 2007

The American River Water Education center gets a “face lift” with construction of a new deck.

The amphitheater sits below the right wing of the Folsom Dam along the bike trail. Posts are in place waiting for completion of its shade structure.

Left and right side abutments of the new bridge progress quickly in July.

June 26, 2007

The American River Water Education building waits to be repositioned on its new site.

Those using the bike trail will experience new pavement which winds around the new ARWEC site.

By the middle of June, you can now see the crane at the left abutment and the retaining wall on the right abutment for the new bridge. 

June 14, 2007

Going

Going

Gone

June 6, 2007

The new bridge continues to grow with lots of activity at the left abutment.

ARWEC staff sits in new office space. We might need a little furniture?

The ARWEC classroom moves on June 4th with a tight squeeze.

The visitor center rolls out on Folsom Dam Road to its new location on June 6th. In case anyone thought we were open for visitors, the sign to the right reads “American River Water Education Center Closed During Move”.

May 29, 2007

ARWEC continues to move! On Saturday, May 19th the staff of the American River Water Education Center held a fabulous garden work party with a combined 26 volunteers from the Capital Christian Center, the California Conservation Corps and ARWEC volunteers. Plants were dug up and stored for transplant to the new site.

ARWEC Volunteer Gary digs in

Volunteers get instructions for plant removal

Volunteers prepare a feast for all

Plants dug up from the ARWEC site sit in a green house waiting for their new home

May 10, 2007

As a result of the construction of the new bridge, the American River Water Education
is moving across the street.

Excavating the site for ARWEC had begun in March.

Our new site is being graded and prepared for the move of our current ARWEC buildings. Those on the bike trail near Folsom Lake can watch it happen.

At the moment we are closed to the general public and finishing up with school tours by May 18, 2007. We look forward to “ business as usual” in October and welcoming school groups back. The tour office will continue to make reservations for the upcoming school year during the transition.

Concrete foundations have been poured for the placement of the existing ARWEC buildings, May 2007