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Minutes from June 25, 2007 Neighborhood Meeting

Bidwell Reach 2 Restoration Project

Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

June 25, 2007

Meeting flyers were mailed to 91 property owners and residents adjacent to and nearby the project area.  Notices of the meeting were sent to the Enterprise Record, News & Review and radio stations KCHO and KZRF for inclusion in their community events columns and public service announcements.

1. Welcome and introductions

2. Project History

  • Project Need:  The project area is from the big meander in Big Chico Creek at Bidwell River Park downstream to the Rose Ave. Bridge.  There are several areas in this reach where the bank is eroding at a rapid rate.
  • The project partners are Big Chico Creek Watershed Alliance, CSU Chico Research Foundation & Streaminders.
  • The Grant funding source was $237,000 from State Water Resources Control Board.

3. Project Description:   There are three components of the project. 

  • Three parcels just upstream of the Rose Ave. Bridge are losing their bank at a rapid rate.  Roger Cole met with the three affected property owners in July 2006 and discussed possible solutions to this problem.  Rock veins about 40’ apart will be installed on the south back to divert the high velocities into the middle of the channel.  Willows will be planted along this bank also. 
  • A section of bank along Bidwell Ave. where there’s a rope swing and swimming hole is eroding, affecting the integrity of the roadway.  For this section, a bioengineered bank stabilization (crib wall and branch packing) solution is planned. 
  • At an orchard along the south bank, there will be a floodplain excavation on the south side to increase the stream capacity during high water events.
4. Questions and answers:
  • Why are the large oak trees along Bidwell Ave. falling over into the creek?  Roger Cole:  It’s probably because the PG&E tree-trimming crews are pruning them on the power line side and not on the creek side, so that they have more weight on the creek side and strong north winds blow them over as they age.
  • Main concern is about flooding and whether project will cause flooding-wants information to show that the proposed solutions will not aggravate the problem.  The techniques that are being used have been successful on other projects in the Chico area. The floodplain excavation will add capacity to the stream, providing area for the flow to spread out and slow down, thus helping with flooding problems. The flows are strictly limited by the 5 Mile diversion structure to less than 1400 cfs and the proposed streambank stabilization solutions are designed to occupy a small percentage of the cross sectional area.
  • What about long-term management of the project area? 
  • The Alliance and Streaminders are working with the County on this with annual cleanups and ongoing funding searches. It’s hoped that property owners will become involved and help convince the County to protect and care for Bidwell River Park from Nord Ave to the Sacramento River.
  • What about invasive plant control?  The project budget includes money for limited invasive plant eradication and replanting with native species. We’re seeking additional funds. We hope to have neighbors and others to volunteer to help out.
  • Where will you get the willow?  Cuttings will be made from willows along other sections of Big Chico Creek
  • How to get project updates?  The Initial Study and Negative Declaration will be available for review during the comment period.  The BCCWA Web site will contain project information.  You can sign up for email notification and updates.
  • Wants more notice before meeting—6 days isn’t enough time.  Contracts were just signed recently so there wasn’t enough time to give more meeting notice.  Notifications for any future meetings will be sent several weeks before the meetings.
  • Will the kids still have a swimming hole?  Roger Cole:  Swimming access will not change after the bank stabilization is installed.  The only difference is that climbing up and down the bank will not add to the erosion at the site.
  • Where will the heavy equipment be parked for staging area? Roger Cole:  Staging and equipment storage areas will be specified as part of the permit process and neighbors will be able to review the parking plan and comment on this.  Equipment will not be parked overnight in front of homeowner’s properties without their approval.  However, equipment must go somewhere for the few weeks of construction.