Council discusses declaring Feather River corridor a park or wildlife preserve to curb dumping and protect habitat

The Oroville City Council discussed whether to pursue formal designation of the Feather River corridor — roughly from the fish hatchery/Green Bridge to the Highway 70 bridge — as a city park or wildlife preserve.

Council members and staff noted that the corridor is already used like a park but suffers frequent illegal dumping, encampments and debris that require recurring code-enforcement and law-enforcement response. Staff reported regular cleanup activity and said code enforcement and law enforcement spend substantial hours on the corridor each month. The corridor includes areas owned by the State Lands Commission below the high-water line and privately held parcels; staff said any formal designation would require interagency coordination and discussions with property owners.

Council suggested that designating the area as a park or wildlife preserve could allow the city to set open/closed hours, increase eligibility for state and federal environmental and restoration grants, and use additional enforcement tools available for preserves. City Attorney Belser recommended the term “wildlife preserve” as potentially stronger for habitat protections and for tying in environmental code sections and enforcement tools.

Council directed staff to pursue stakeholder outreach with partner agencies (Department of Water Resources, State Parks, Feather River Parks & Recreation, CHP) and to return with options and potential grant opportunities. Council members emphasized balancing compassion for unhoused people with the need for a safe, debris-free river corridor and suggested improved lighting, patrols and pathway improvements could be part of a broader strategy to protect sensitive salmon spawning habitat and to make the corridor more usable for residents.