Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Creek topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dunsmuir council hears yearslong dispute over downtown creek, orders inspections
Summary
After hours of public testimony, the council heard technical and legal options for restoring the downtown creek flow and directed staff to obtain inspections and cost estimates while coordinating with state water agencies; no final policy was adopted because the item was information-only.
The Dunsmuir City Council spent the bulk of its Dec. 5 meeting on a long-running dispute over whether to restore a visible flow through the downtown "creek" after the city took control of a new water tank.
City Manager Reif told the council the city took ownership of the tank on Oct. 31 and outlined technical and regulatory constraints: inspectors should evaluate the mostly-underground infrastructure, the city must track water loss to meet state rules, and metering the flow could allow seasonal operation. "The city has now taken control of the tank, as of October 31. We now own the tank 100%," Reif said.
The public comment period ran more than an hour. Residents and business owners urged the council to preserve the creek for ambiance, tourism and tree health and proposed a citizens' working group and careful inspections. "Our water right in Dunsmuir is liquid gold," said Helen Cartwright, a longtime resident who urged a committee and more study.
Council members pressed staff on liability, mapping the exact underground path of the flow under downtown buildings, and whether state agencies have imposed mandates. Council members recommended staff contact the Division of Water Rights and the Department of Fish and Wildlife and pursue a pending CDBG master-drainage grant. Because the item was listed as informational, the council did not adopt formal policy; instead staff was asked to gather quotes for inspecting roughly 3,000–4,000 feet of system and return with cost estimates and agency outreach.
The council and many citizens said they wanted visible, safe sections of the creek daylighted where feasible, while acknowledging parcels and liability concerns would need to be addressed. Staff emphasized timing will depend on winter weather and grant schedules, and that any restoration must account for maintenance and owner agreement.
