The American River originates in the high Sierra Nevada just west of Lake Tahoe, in the Tahoe and El Dorado National Forests. Its three main forks—the South, Middle, and North—flow through the Sierra foothills and converge east of Sacramento. My family and I have white water rafted the river two or three times, with a guide. The only time we all fell out was on the Trinity River. The reason we went under was there had been a dam release that morning, and the water level was extremely high. When the American River is flowing at its peak, water can top the No Hands Bridge.
When you forgive someone, you might suggest it’s water under the bridge. This bucolic aphorism has ties to an ancient Greek phrase, “You cannot step twice in the same river.” In other words, as the river flows on, so does life. Using this aphorism means you’re ready to let the water continue on its way or let bygones be bygones (another aphorism). [source - wordgenius]