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Santa Rosa water department puts Colgan Creek restoration Phase 3 to bid; $6.5 million engineer's estimate
Summary
City staff told the Waterways Advisory Committee that Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Phase 3 is out to bid, covering roughly 2,500 feet with a $6.5 million engineer's estimate; construction could start June 15 pending permits. Staff also summarized Creek Stewardship outreach and volunteer cleanup statistics.
City of Santa Rosa water department staff told the Waterways Advisory Committee on Feb. 27 that the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Phase 3 project is currently out to bid and is expected to be the city’s largest capital project this year if bids come in competitively.
The water department provided an engineer’s estimate of $6,500,000 for the Phase 3 work, which staff described as roughly 2,500 feet of creek restoration that will include planting more than 8,000 native trees and shrubs, a pedestrian bridge and an alignment adjacent to a future city park. Staff said, if permitting and contracting proceed on schedule, construction could begin as early as June 15; the start date is contingent on receiving required permits, including a stream alteration agreement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Staff also highlighted the city’s Creek Stewardship Program and volunteer efforts in 2024. Department figures, as reported at the meeting, included more than 2,300 people receiving email updates; nearly 400 participants at Creek Week events; about 9,000 residents reached through outreach activities; more than 7,000 youth contacts in schools and camps; roughly 8,000 hours of education; and cleanup efforts that removed over 1,200 cubic yards of trash (staff equated this to roughly 400 pickup‑truck loads).
The department announced upcoming outreach and volunteer opportunities: a monthly first‑Saturday cleanup in March, partnership cleanups with the Russian River group on third Saturdays, and a Roseland Creek cleanup beginning at Tony Point Road on March 15 (staff said they would provide the exact date). Staff offered to provide trash‑pickup gear and coordinate volunteer cleanups; groups should contact the city’s creek stewardship team via the email provided in the meeting transcript (creeksteam@creeksatsrcity.org) or by phone at 543‑3845 to arrange events.
Committee members asked for future site visits and expressed interest in both pre‑construction and post‑construction tours of the restoration corridor. Staff said community planting days are planned for spring 2026 and that the city hopes to hold a ribbon‑cutting event inviting funders and committee members after Phase 3 is complete.
Staff and committee members credited longtime local and regional funding partners for property acquisition and support of prior phases; the project has been in planning and property assembly for more than two decades, and multiple funding mechanisms were cited during the discussion.
No formal committee action or binding decision on contracting was taken at the meeting; staff presented the update and invited volunteer coordination and future committee briefings.
