The possibility of a new pedestrian bridge across the American River near Auburn is making a comeback.<\/p>\n
Targeted for canyon users on horseback, on bikes or onfoot, the bridge was discussed seriously more than a decade ago as Placer County Water Agency closed a tunnel diverting American River water in the canyon below Auburn.<\/p>\n
The tunnel closure daylighted a stretch of river that was diverted underground during the Auburn dam project \u2013 but the Water Agency\u2019s work also removed a foot crossing by land over the tunnel that had linked El Dorado and Placer counties.<\/p>\n
The Water Agency pledged $500,000 for a bridge crossing as part of its $72 million American River pump station project but the funding has remained in a state of limbo since then.<\/p>\n
That situation could change as the Auburn State Recreation Area undergoes a renewed general plan effort by State Parks and the site\u2019s owner, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.<\/p>\n
The agencies are scheduling a series of workshops to gather public input for the recreation area\u2019s $600,000 general plan-resource management plan project. The first public workshop is scheduled from 6 p.m. Nov. 12 at Skyridge Elementary School, 800 Perkins Way in Auburn.<\/p>\n
The plan will consider types of recreation that could be enhanced and improved, including camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, rock climbing and bird watching.<\/p>\n
Park and recreation specialist Jim Micheaels, of State Parks, said Wednesday that the project\u2019s public outreach will provide opportunity for comments and public engagement to help determine a broad-based blueprint for future planning. The recreation area covers 40 miles of the north and middle forks of the American river and has 900,000 visitors a year. The new plan replaces one created in 1992.<\/p>\n
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