Accomplishments - Our Major Projects
The Kings River Conservancy has many programs that serve to preserve and protect the continued growth and beauty of the Kings River. Click the images below to learn more about these programs.
Margaret Thorburn River Access Park
The Thorburn River Access Park, located on the northeast corner of the Kings River and Highway 180, just upriver from the Kings River Bridge, sits on a 7.39-acre parcel owned by Fresno County and managed by KRC.
“The Thorburn Access Park was named in honor of the vision of the Thorburn family and their key contributions that helped make the park a reality,” said Wendy Sheridan, Former KRC Public Outreach Director.
The Park offers a 35-stall parking area, restrooms, information kiosk, five picnic tables, a trail with access to the river for non-motorized craft, as well as catch and release fishing.
​
Summer Hours:
April 1st - September 30th from 7 AM to 10 PM
Winter Hours:
October 1st - March 31st from 7 AM to 7 PM
Raptor Walk
The KRC Raptor Walk follows the south shore of the Kings River just below the dam. It's a flat, casual walk (but not completely smooth) with interpretive signs describing the large birds of prey you are likely to encounter along the trail.
Trout Incubator House
Originally a project, the incubator has now turned into a partnership program. Each winter for more than a decade, the Kings River Fisheries Management Program (KRFMP) incubated 300,000 rainbow trout eggs in streamside incubators located along the banks of the Kings River. The young trout hatched from these eggs have been seasonally released into the river with the hopes that they would someday grow into adult rainbow trout. In early 2012, the KRFMP signed a long-term lease agreement with Fresno County for use of a 300 square foot steel building located along the banks of the Kings River. The building houses two 15-foot-long rearing tables that have replaced the old stream side incubators.
The Incubator Building allows for greater control of environmental conditions and a lower density of trout fry in each rearing trough while exceeding the overall capacity of the original streamside incubators. In addition, the Incubator Building is able to start incubating eggs earlier in the year and run for a longer period of time, thus increasing the total volume of trout eggs (approx. 300,000) hatched each year. All of the trout hatched in the Incubator Building will be released into the Kings River below Pine Flat Dam. The Incubator Building was funded by the KRFMP and a grant from the Martin Family. The Martin Family Grant was administered by the Kings River Conservancy.
North Riverside Trail
Funded by a $285,000 grant through the California River Parkways Grant Program (Proposition 84), the North Riverside Park features a 1.5 multi-purpose trail directly accessing the Kings River, of which one-half mile is ADA accessible.
​
A one-half acre parking area with room for eleven cars and an adjoining two stall ADA compliant restroom completes the access park area. Also featured are two interpretive kiosks, three picnic tables and visitor feedback stations.