City outlines debris removal, Spring River ownership work and long trail repairs

City staff told the finance committee they have begun coordinated debris removal along the Spring River corridor and are working with county and state partners to determine ownership of waterways and riverbed title before major repair work and trail reopening.

The city has started clearing debris at the Spring River Zoo basin and the wastewater plant area and plans to use grapple trucks and contractor crews beginning Feb. 7 to remove large items such as collapsed pedestrian bridges and washed‑in construction material. Staff said they are staging riprap (large historic stonework) in a secured location for eventual reuse because the rock is historically significant.

Legal staff and community development reported extensive title research over old deeds and county records; in places the state may have ownership claims tied to historic navigability of the Spring River. Staff said the county is preparing quit‑claim language to release any state interest so the city can assume responsibility for reconstruction and for any work FEMA will not cover.

Public works and parks managers said they are coordinating weekly with multiple departments and with contractors; the city will request waivers or easements from private property owners for cleanup on parcels adjacent to the river where ownership can be determined. Staff also flagged landfill restoration as a complex, time‑sensitive mitigation project; engineers reported roughly 750,000 gallons of water pressing on a landfill liner that required expedited intervention.

On the trails, staff noted that many trail segments run immediately adjacent to waterways and that stabilizing banks and retaining walls—some of them WPA‑era stonework—will require engineering, historic‑resource coordination and likely a phased multi‑month effort. Staff asked for continued flexibility in funding and for authority to use state and FEMA assistance where eligible.