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Resident urges reopening of Shanghai Bend Rapids Road; council asks staff to follow up
Summary
A longtime local resident told the Yuba City Council the Shanghai Bend Rapids Road has been closed since September 2022 and urged the city to reopen it; staff said they would follow up with the county and return with more information.
Dale Whitmore, a resident and former biologist who said he managed the property from about 2000 to 2012, urged the Yuba City Council to reopen Shanghai Bend Rapids Road, a route that provides public access to a popular fishing area.
Whitmore told the council the gate was locked by the public works department in April 2022, reopened by the council in July 2022 and then closed again in September 2022 after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife took action. He said the property'ownership and maintenance responsibilities shifted in November 2023 when Department of Fish and Wildlife property transferred to Sutter County, leaving the road roughly one-third city-owned and two-thirds county-owned. "The public road should be open to the public," Whitmore said.
Council members asked staff to follow up. Interim City Manager Robert Bindorf said staff had already been in contact with the county and would continue discussions and provide follow-up information. "I'll follow-up," Bindorf told the council, and staff later suggested they would place the issue on a tickler for additional action within days or weeks.
Council Member Cole noted he had previously provided information from Whitmore to staff and asked that a more formal staff report be returned. The council did not take formal action or vote on the matter during the meeting but directed staff to report back.
Why it matters Shanghai Bend Rapids is described by speakers as one of the most popular fishing locations in Sutter County. Reopening the road would shorten the walk to the rapids for visitors and residents; Whitmore argued limited access reduces recreation and tourism opportunities.
What happens next Staff said they will continue discussions with Sutter County about ownership and maintenance responsibilities and will return to the council with a status update in the coming days or weeks. No timeline for reopening was provided during the meeting.
