They combed through more than 8,000 pages of reports. They consulted lawyers and engineers and arborists. They organized civic actions drawing hundreds, all protesting a plan to raze about 600 trees north of the Watt Avenue bridge.
These demonstrations by environmental advocacy nonprofits attempted to persuade the Central Valley Flood Protection Board to either pause or vote against destroying trees and disrupting wildlife on the American River Parkway. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which proposed the plan, said the area needs rocks to fortify banks and prevent erosion.
Board members voted Friday unanimously to approve a final Corps report, clearing the last hurdle for construction to begin…