Overwhelming Support for Tunnel Closure

The Bureau of Reclamation and the Placer County Water Agency have been inundated with public comments regarding their proposal to close the Auburn dam diversion tunnel and restore the North Forth American River to its natural streambed. The vast majority of comments have been enthusiastically supportive of the restoration plan, which is to be implemented as part of a project to install a pump station for PCWA at the former dam site. The Bureau expects to release the project's final EIS/EIR in January 2002 and begin river channel excavation work by May 2002.

with the 30 or so speakers unanimously endorsing the Bureau's plan. Many of those submitting comments have expressed concern over the loss of the Auburn to Cool Trail link that will result from restoring the river. PARC has urged the Bureau to mitigate this loss by whatever means are feasible. Mitigation options we have suggested include 1) construction of a permanent pedestrian bridge over the river near the current land bridge location, and 2) new multipurpose trails leading from No Hands Bridge downstream on both sides of the river to the former dam site area, where they will connect up with existing trail systems. Whether implemented as part of the pump station project or by other means, we believe both these proposals are needed to satisfy recreational demand within PARC's proposed American River Confluence Parkway.

Disappointingly, the Auburn City Council has recently voiced its concern with those provisions of the plan calling for public vehicle access to the former dam site and Oregon Bar. Citing fire danger fears as well as traffic, noise and safety concerns raised by some residents who live near the Maidu Road entrance gate, the council at its December 10 meeting directed staff to notify the Bureau of its concerns.

This action is unfortunate because it potentially puts the public access components of the plan in jeopardy. The City Council needs to immediately hear from as many people as possible, and in particular from Auburn residents, why public access is important and why the council members' concerns can be addressed without denying limited vehicle access to the river. It should be pointed out that State Parks is in the process of developing a comprehensive fire prevention and suppression plan, something that is needed with or without the limited increased public access the plan calls for. It should also be emphasized that vehicle access will be limited to day use only, with parking spaces for only seventy vehicles, and that access will be monitored and enforced by State Parks. Also worth mentioning is that the Bureau can provide access via Pacific Avenue rather than Maidu Drive, thereby alleviating the Maidu neighbors' concerns. Finally, and most importantly, council members should understand that public access will serve to enhance Auburn's growing reputation as a recreation destination, which in turn will bring measurable economic benefits to the city. It would truly be a shame to block public access, with all its benefits, because of potential problems that have workable solutions.