Brett Valle exits the eddy after the first drop of Staircase rapid. The photograph was taken on a spectacular Spring day in 1996. The river was running clear, cold, and about 1800 c.f.s.

This beautiful and unique section of the N.F. American River is just one of several river segments threatened by various Auburn Dam proposals.

For more information regarding theN.F. American River see the American Whitewater River Info for California.