The possibility of a new pedestrian bridge across the American River near Auburn is making a comeback.

Targeted for canyon users on horseback, on bikes or onfoot, the bridge was discussed seriously more than a decade ago as Placer County Water Agency closed a tunnel diverting American River water in the canyon below Auburn.

The tunnel closure daylighted a stretch of river that was diverted underground during the Auburn dam project – but the Water Agency’s work also removed a foot crossing by land over the tunnel that had linked El Dorado and Placer counties.

The Water Agency pledged $500,000 for a bridge crossing as part of its $72 million American River pump station project but the funding has remained in a state of limbo since then.

That situation could change as the Auburn State Recreation Area undergoes a renewed general plan effort by State Parks and the site’s owner, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The agencies are scheduling a series of workshops to gather public input for the recreation area’s $600,000 general plan-resource management plan project. The first public workshop is scheduled from 6 p.m. Nov. 12 at Skyridge Elementary School, 800 Perkins Way in Auburn.

The plan will consider types of recreation that could be enhanced and improved, including camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, rock climbing and bird watching.

Park and recreation specialist Jim Micheaels, of State Parks, said Wednesday that the project’s public outreach will provide opportunity for comments and public engagement to help determine a broad-based blueprint for future planning. The recreation area covers 40 miles of the north and middle forks of the American river and has 900,000 visitors a year. The new plan replaces one created in 1992.

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