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The
Confluence Spring 2002
Proposal to Remedy Auburn to Cool Trail Loss
Gains Momentum
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As the American River Pump Station Project
approaches final approval, a proposal to mitigate for the
loss of the Auburn to Cool Trail link that will result from
restoration of the North Fork of the American River is also
gaining momentum.
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State Parks is continuing to develop
a comprehensive fire prevention and suppression plan
for the entire Auburn State Recreation Area, and first
priority is being given to that portion of the canyon
directly below Auburn's canyon side neighborhoods.
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Two exciting options for replacing the existing
land bridge across the dry river channel are being studied by
the State of California. One proposal calls for building a permanent
footbridge across the river, most likely just downstream of
the diversion tunnel outlet. The bridge would connect existing
trails on both sides of the river and would be open to hikers,
runners, mountain bikers and equestrians.
The other option would entail constructing new trails on both
sides of the river from No Hands Bridge downstream to the vicinity
of the restored river, where they too would link up with existing
trails.
PARC is enthusiastically supportive of both options, and we
believe each should ultimately be implemented as components
of the proposed American River Confluence Parkway. Which one
should be constructed in tandem with the pump station project
remains to be seen, since planning for both is still in the
early stages and definitive cost evaluations are not yet available.
Never the less, we find it encouraging that the Bureau of Reclamation,
Placer County Water Agency, State Parks, and other interested
stakeholders are working together in an effort to bring one
of these logical ideas to fruition.
The Bureau now anticipates the pump station final EIS/EIR will
be released in May 2002 and that the project will actually get
underway sometime this summer. Significant progress has been
made in terms of addressing the concerns raised by the Auburn
City Council and some Maidu Drive area residents, in particular
the concern that allowing limited public vehicle access to the
former dam site and Oregon Bar could increase the risk of fire
in the canyon. State Parks is continuing to develop a comprehensive
fire prevention and suppression plan for the entire Auburn State
Recreation Area, and first priority is being given to that portion
of the canyon directly below Auburn's canyon-side neighborhoods.
Specific measures are being developed that will minimize to
the greatest degree possible fire risks associated with the
new public vehicle access roads and parking areas. The plan
also contemplates the development of shaded fuel breaks adjacent
to canyon rim residential areas.
Despite these efforts, some people remain unhappy with the public
access and recreation components of the project. Assemblyman
Tim Leslie recently indicated that he is willing to introduce
a bill in the state legislature to provide additional funding
to help complete the pump station project, but that he opposes
including any recreational improvements in the project. Mr.
Leslie's statement suggests that he fails to understand the
fundamental nature of the project, and in particular that the
recreation components are key features already agreed to by
the Bureau of Reclamation, PCWA, and the State of California
(which has previously appropriated 4 million dollars to river
restoration precisely because the plan includes those recreation
improvements spelled out in the draft EIS/EIR). Legally the
Bureau and PCWA have no choice but to agree to these minimal
recreation features, since they are necessary to mitigate for
the impacts to existing recreation that river restoration will
cause.
It is unfortunate but not surprising that some people continue
to oppose limited public access to the restored river. In our
view the recreation features are not only legally required,
they are well designed and represent a valuable investment in
the Auburn Community by the State of California. Once implemented
they will be something the entire Auburn community will take
pride in. As always we encourage PARC members and supporters
to continue monitoring the progress of the pump station project,
and to help us bring the restoration of the American River to
completion.
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