What: A University of California, Davis, geologist will guide reporters down a short, calm stretch of the South Fork of the American River to illustrate a new approach to managing rivers. People need to change the way they think about rivers, says UC Davis geology professor Jeffrey Mount. In his new book "California Rivers and Streams" (UC Press, 1995), Mount shows how applying lessons from basic science can make a dramatic difference in successfully coping with the state's flood-prone rivers. "We need to learn to work with our rivers, rather than against them," he says. The California floods of January 1995 showed how human efforts to control rivers have failed -- or worse, caused even bigger problems. In the long run, Mount says, it's cheaper, safer and more environmentally sound to adapt to a river, than to force it to adapt to us. This new way of managing rivers, which is becoming increasingly popular in Europe, applies to all rivers that flood. When: Tuesday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to noon Where: James Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Coloma About 50 miles east of Sacramento, Calif. Visuals: On the river bank, Mount will give a brief overview of how the discovery of gold at Sutter's mill generated a chain reaction that ultimately led to the most altered and heavily regulated rivers in the country. Accompanied by kayakers, reporters will board whitewater rafts to float a calm stretch of the South Fork of the American River. During the one-hour trip, Mount will illustrate how traditional approaches to flooding and water supply, involving costly levees, channels and dams, can conflict with the natural behavior of rivers. He will discuss how dams, urbanization, grazing, logging, mining and other land-use changes in the Sierra foothills have changed rivers. The boats will take out at Camp Lotus by noon. A shuttle will take reporters back to Coloma Park. Optional: After a noon brown-bag lunch at Camp Lotus, media may continue down river with Mount for an afternoon whitewater trip on class III rapids that are safe and popular with first-time rafters. The trip will end at Salmon Falls bridge about 4:30 p.m.; participants will be shuttled back to Coloma Park. Wetsuits will be provided in case of cold weather. Parking From Sacramento, take Highway 50 east to the Shingle Springs and Directions: exit. Go north across the overpass. Turn right onto No. Shingle Springs Road. At the "T" intersection, bear left onto Lotus Road. At Highway 49 turn right, go one-quarter mile to the Marshall gold discovery site. Parking is on the left. Allow one hour's driving time from Sacramento.