The Oroville Waterfront Redevelopment Plan was developed in 2004 by the City of Oroville and a key basis for negotiating the Supplemental Benefits Fund (SBF).  A Whitewater Park was identified as a potential investment that the SBF could champion which would provide an investment in recreational and related projects with a nexus to the Feather River that could improve the quality of life and stimulate economic development in the Oroville Region.

The Settlement Agreement for licensing of the Oroville Facilities (FERC Project 2100) Appendix B was included in the agreement approved, March 2006, and states in part; "Measures agreed to among the parties but not to be included in New Project License." Those measures included the establishment of the Supplemental Benefits Fund and a provision for DWR to initiate and fund a Whitewater Boating Opportunity and Recreation Feasibility Study to assist the SBF Steering Committee in determining whether to fund the construction and operation of such a project, or cost share on such a project somewhere in the region, pursuant to the SBF funding criteria. That study was completed in December 2009 and concluded that a Whitewater Project would be a feasible recreational facility for the community.

The Supplemental Benefits Fund Steering Committee since its inception had participated in and endorsed discussions regarding a potential Whitewater Park in the Oroville area and the recreational and economic benefits that such an endeavor could provide. The SBF is a potential funding source, however its mission does not include developing or managing projects.

City of Oroville as Lead Agency

The City of Oroville became the lead agency for the Whitewater Park Project in 2010 and entered into an agreement with McLaughlin (McLaughlin) Whitewater Design Group for an Environmental Study in 2011. The Environmental Study was determined to be a necessity as it will provide the basis for the approvals required from a large variety of State & Federal Agencies. McLaughlin presented six alternatives to the City with the City selecting the Fish Barrier Pool location as the study site. That site also received the highest score in the DWR 2009 Feather River Whitewater Boating Opportunity Feasibility Study. The Fish Barrier site is a location that could provide either a national or international caliber whitewater venue which is one of the City's objectives.

The City contracted with PLEI for an Economic Study to determine the economic feasibility of a Whitewater venue. The study was completed in June 2012. The PLEI study in its conclusion states in part, "What nature has provided can be enhanced by the development of manmade recreational and relaxation elements such as the recirculating whitewater channels, zip lines, aerial adventure courses, restaurants and concerts. Oroville absolutely should invest in its greatest existing asset and leverage these natural resources in a sustainable and compelling manner. The recreational and natural elements can be enhanced and featured in a manner that establishes Oroville's brand as the outdoor lifestyle capital in California and the United States."

The City of Oroville, as the lead agency, committed $216,000 towards this phase of the project of which $116,000 was funded.

The following is a chronology of events that occurred related to the required studies to develop the final Whitewater Park strategy.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS RELATED TO A POTENTIAL WHITEWATER PARK

• March 2004 (CITY OF OROVILLE ACTION)

• Oroville Downtown Waterfront Concept Plan was approved by the Oroville Redevelopment Agency detailing various projects, including a Whitewater Park located at the Diversion Pool. The Concept Plan was used as part of the Settlement Agreement negotiating strategy with the Department of Water Resources.

   March 2006 (DWR ACTION)

 FERC Project# No 2100, Settlement Agreement (signed by 50 stakeholders) included a provision for the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to fund a whitewater feasibility study to be started within 90 days of the execution of the Settlement Agreement and be finished within 15 months.

•  June 2007 (FEATHER RIVER RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT ACTION) (FRRPD)

FRRPD, in a previous master plan, had identified a potential Whitewater venue to be constructed adjacent to Bedrock Park which at the time was one of the parks that they managed. FRRPD contracted with Melton Design Group to prepare a rendering and cost analysis of the potential venue. Due to lack of funding the venue was never built and a few years later FRRPD transferred the management of Bedrock Park to the City of Oroville.  In 2008-2009 the SBF included Bedrock Park as one of the potential sites for a future Whitewater venue. 

• February 2009 (DWR ACTION)

   

  DWR requests the SBF Steering Committee to participate in narrowing down the potential sites for the Study Plan. March 2009, DWR submits a letter to the SBF Steering Committee stating criteria for the Committee to consider.

   

  The SBF Steering Committee held an off-site public meeting with 34 people. In attendance were elected officials, Agency representatives, stakeholders, general public, and City and SBF staff who visited sites based on the DWR letter dated March 2009 asking for SBF Steering Committee participation and input. April 2009. The SBF Steering Committee appointed a Whitewater ad hoc Committee comprised of elected officials, agency representatives, stakeholders, general public, City and SBF staff to review and finalize site recommendations for the SBF Steering Committee from 5 to 3 sites. The Whitewater ad hoc Committee met and established a strategy and planned the site visit schedule of candidate sites. May 2009, weekly the Whitewater ad hoc Committee met and toured a candidate site. June 2009, Whitewater ad hoc Committee prepared for a final presentation to the SBF Steering Committee.

   

• July 2009 (SBF STEERING COMMITTEE ACTION)

   

  At the regular quarterly public SBF Steering Committee meeting, a presentation was made by the Whitewater ad hoc Committee. Staff was instructed to prepare a letter with the SBF Steering Committee findings and recommendations to be sent to DWR.

   

• December 2009 (DWR ACTION)

   

  DWR completed the Background Report and Concept Evaluation (Phase I and II), entitled the Feather River Whitewater Boating Opportunity Feasibility Study as required by the Settlement Agreement, FERC Project# No 2100. January 2010, SBF Steering Committee and the City received the DWR Report. The DWR report focuses on three potential sites and concludes that the area adjacent to the Diversion Dam is the preferred site. April 2010, the City advised the SBF Steering Committee that the City would be conducting an economic feasibility and use analysis of the RDA Gateway Project property, which included an element of a potential Whitewater project located at Bedrock Park.

   

• September 2010 (CITY OF OROVILLE ACTION)

At the City of Oroville Redevelopment Agency meeting, City staff provided a presentation regarding the potential of an in-stream Whitewater Park in the Feather River between the Highway 70 and Table Mountain Bridges, encompassing Bedrock Park as a proposed site. Staff was directed to prepare a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to begin the process of selecting a qualified consultant that would have an interest in a Whitewater Park design, permit, and build project. Staff recommended that a Whitewater ad hoc Committee be created to help with the selection of a qualified consultant. November 2010, at the City Redevelopment Agency meeting, the Commission approved the RFQ for the Whitewater Project. December 2010, staff received four proposals for the Whitewater Park Project.

• January 2011 (CITY OF OROVILLE ACTION)

   

  The City invited Mclaughlin Whitewater Design Group and three other firms to present their proposal to the Whitewater Subcommittee. February 2011, the Whitewater Subcommittee short-listed two firms for a follow-up interview. During the presentations with the short-listed firms, McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group informed the Whitewater Subcommittee that the envisioned Bedrock Park / bridge-to-bridge concept, as detailed in the RFQ, would not produce a national or international attraction as envisioned by the Whitewater ad Hoc Committee due to several limiting geographical and environmental conditions. Alternatively, McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group proposed several sites located at the Diversion Pool that could meet the City's expectation to have a national/international attraction.

   

• March 2011 (CITY OF OROVILLE ACTION)

   

  The Whitewater ad Hoc Committee advised McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group that they would be recommended to the City Redevelopment Commission for approval to design, build, and permit the Oroville Whitewater Park. In the ensuing month, staff worked with Mclaughlin Whitewater Design Group to begin the formulation of the scope of work to define the project requirements. April 2011, McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group submitted a scope and fee structure to the City to complete the Pre-Design Phase of Whitewater Park alternatives at the Fish Barrier Pool site. The scope included, amongst other things, gathering existing conditions data, initial environmental and permitting work, and alternative development. Staff circulated this scope to the DWR and State Water Contractors (SWC) to solicit a preliminary review of the scope of work and provide comments.

   

• June 2011 (CITY 0F OR0VILLE ACTION)

Meetings were held with the City, DWR, SWC, and McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group's team to discuss their comments and the whitewater park project as a whole. DWR and SWC's expressed concern regarding the environmental and permitting challenges that the whitewater park project at the Diversion Pool site might encounter. July 2011, staff conducted a subsequent meeting with DWR to further discuss the project, at which time, DWR agreed to provide the City a more thorough review of the project by their environmental and permitting experts to provide official comments on expected environmental and permitting work. Aug & Sept. 2011, staff received opinion letters from DWR and SWC and had had subsequent meetings with each Agency to discuss project particulars (See attached DWR and SWC letters). Staff continued to meet with DWR and SWC to discuss the Whitewater Project and to inform them that the City is moving forward with the Whitewater Project.