Bridging the Gap
February 10, 2003
Article written by Mary Weston for the Chico Enterprise Record
If you have a town, and a river runs through it, why not tie the river to the town?
That idea has been on the minds of many Oroville residents lately, with recreational groups, city staff and City Council converging on the same idea: river-front development that ties the historic downtown to the Feather River. Last week the Redevelopment Agency gave the nod to pay Wallace Roberts & Todd, Inc., $87,298 to complete the riverfront plan for the city. The firm has planned riverfront projects across the nation, including West Sacramento, Cloverdale, Portland and the Baltimore Harbor.
“Waterfronts are the identifying elements of many successful cities,” Stickley said.
“They tend to attract people.” Stickley said gateways to the river could include venues on the water or landscaping on the levee. Such projects are intended to bridge the gap between the town and the river by attracting people to the water or providing views of the river from places such as restaurants, hotels or plazas.
The project includes identifying the appropriate protection, mitigation and enhancement options for the city to submit to the Department of Water Resources.
In the process of renewing its license to generate electricity, water resources is required to develop recreational facilities around the dam. Local stakeholders must submit proposals for the projects by April 5. The Oroville riverfront is the low-flow section of the river that runs from the diversion dam to the outlet to the after-bay. Up until now, this section of the water project wasn’t included in the federal re-licensing area, even though it was changed as much as any other part of the river by the dam.
The city plans to submit a list of options for Oroville riverfront redevelopment. Funding for the project could include redevelopment agency money, city bond money and state grants.
RDA Vice chairman Steve Jernigan and commissioner Art Hatley said they wanted local design consultant Greg Melton of Land Image to work with the consultants. Melton has already done a lot of work on a plan, and he is local, Hatley said. The commissioners wanted someone on the project who understands the local area and community.
Melton has been working with the Feather River Low Flow Collaborative Alliance on a riverfront plan since January, developing a draft list of projects and a preliminary conceptual drawing.
The committee consists of a group of concerned citizens and recreational user groups who came together to discuss projects along the riverfront that could be submitted to DWR. The plan includes a convention center, hotel, restaurants, a miniature train, warm swimming areas and whitewater rafting.