El Dorado County has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Mosquito Road Bridge Replacement Project and despite 3 years of community engagement this document fails to recognize the impacts to recreation in the area.  The proposed bridge project would construct a new downstream bridge approximately 400 feet over the river. It would cost an estimated $65 million and would be the 7th tallest bridge in California. Meanwhile, the original Mosquito Road Bridge used by whitewater boaters, hikers, climbers and bicycle riders is proposed to be removed after construction.  The County DEIR provides zero mitigation for the loss of this recreational resource.

Among the recreational concerns ignored by the DEIR, American Whitewater has repeatedly communicated that the proposed changes use distance and no parking signs to end public access to a navigable waterway - the South Fork American River below Slab Creek Reservoir. The Access Fund, a national advocacy organization whose mission conserves the climbing environment, submitted a comment letter pointing out that the bridge affords access points for various activities including climbing.  And most recently the organizer of the annual Motherlode Century has expressed removal of the bridge would put an end to a popular bicycle route described in Bill Oetinger’s book 75 Classic Rides Northern California: The Best Road Biking Routes.

Fortunately, recreational stakeholders can submit comments to El Dorado County through December 1, 2016  regarding the recreational deficiencies in the Mosquito Road Bridge Replacement Project DEIR.  Thanks for taking action below!