California State Parks and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are extending the public comment period on the future plans of Auburn State Recreation Area (SRA) by an additional 14 days due to the high level of interest expressed at a recent open house in Cool, California. To ensure that all interested members of the public are able to provide comments on the Auburn SRA Preliminary General Plan/Auburn Project Lands Draft Resource Management Plan (Plan) and a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), that deadline has been extended through the close of business on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019.A Auburn SRA is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and includes about 30,000 acres of public land that is situated along nearly 40 linear miles of the north and middle forks of the American River. California State Parks manages the state recreation area through a managing partner agreement with Reclamation. The Plan alternatives include resource protection and land use strategies that will serve the communities and recreating public in the long term.
Highlights of the proposed action would allow or facilitate:
* Parking capacity may be increased by up to 25 percent.
* Camping capacity may be increased by up to 245 individual campsites and five group sites.
* River access improvements to trails, roads and boat landings.
* Trail bridges over the North Fork American River between Auburn and Cool and over the Middle Fork American River at the former Greenwood Bridge site.
* Increased natural and cultural resources management, including fire prevention strategies.
* Increased opportunities for visitors to engage in stewardship and education opportunities.