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The much delayed, much anticipated draft environmental impact
report for Placer County Water Agency’s American River pump
station project is now expected to be released in late May
or early June 2001.  The
proposed project will include as integral components closure
of the Auburn Dam diversion tunnel and restoration of the
North Fork American River’s natural channel. It will also
include improvements designed to facilitate public access
tothe river, including boating take-out locations near the
former dam site and further downstream at Oregon Bar. While
we believe there will be much to like about this proposed
project, we encourage everyone to take the time to study the
proposal and to submit comments on the draft plan during the
60 day public comment period that will follow the draft EIR’s
release. Written comments should be sent to: Rod Hall Bureau
of Reclamation 7794 Folsom Dam Road Folsom, CA 95630 rhall@mp.usbr.gov
The Bureau of Reclamation and PCWA still hope to issue a Record
of Decision on the project and to solicit construction bids
by the end of the year, with actual on the ground work beginning
by next spring. If all goes according to plan, the public
should be back on this long-closed stretch of river by 2004!
In a welcome development, Congressman John Doolittle appears
to have finally given up his losing battle on the tunnel closure
question. Doolittle told the Sacramento Bee in a March 2001
interview that he was withdrawing his opposition to the river
restoration plan because he did not want to risk a Placer
County building moratorium that could result from further
delays in the construction of PCWA’s permanent pump station.
A word of caution: while the river restoration plan
is certainly moving in the right direction, the project is
not necessarily a done deal since it has not yet been fully
funded. We must encourage the Bureau of Reclamation, PCWA,
the State of California and Congressman Doolittle to come
up with additional appropriations needed to finish the job.
Renewed Call for Auburn Dam
Even as the impending restoration of the North Fork American
River approaches reality, Congressman John Doolittle and State
Senator Rico Oller have renewed their calls for construction
of an Auburn dam, this time under the guise that the dam is
needed to help solve California’s energy crisis. Mr. Oller
has recently introduced legislation in Sacramento that would
put a bond measure on the statewide ballot to finance the
dam’s construction. Oller’s bill fails to address the project’s
expected cost, no doubt because its $2 billion-plus price
tag is such a huge obstacle for dam proponents. We believe
Oller’s bill has no chance of winning the approval of the
State Legislature. Nevertheless, its introduction presents
another opportunity to help educate state legislators and
the public at large as to why building an Auburn dam would
be a colossal waste of taxpayer funds. We urge people to write
to Mr. Oller and to State Assemblyman Tim Leslie and ask them
to get to work finding real answers to California’s energy
and water needs instead of wasting time promoting a costly,
destructive and unnecessary project. Let them know how much
you value the North and Middle Forks of the American River
in their free-flowing state, and why it would be a terrible
mistake to destroy the beautiful and biologically rich canyons
these rivers flow through. Our representatives should also
be reminded that the river canyons support a diverse and expanding
recreation-based economy. With an estimated one million visitors
annually, Auburn State Recreation Area is an outdoor enthusiast’s
paradise and a boon to our local economy. With the growth
occurring in Placer County and with restored public access
downstream of the Confluence only a few years away, the canyon’s
popularity and economic value will only continue to grow.
If you live in another state Senate district, please write
to your state Senator and urge him or her to reject Oller’s
bill. Rico Oller 333 Sunrise Avenue Roseville, CA 95661 Phone:
(916) 791-7426 RicoOller@aol.com
Tim Leslie State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2004
Assemblymember.Leslie@assembly.ca.gov
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