Sonoma County officials offer Healdsburg apology over seasonal dam decision

One of the county’s most popular swimming holes, created each summer in Healdsburg by the installation of a seasonal dam in the Russian River, will be absent for the second year in a row, and it’s not because of the drought.

In a controversial move criticized by Healdsburg city officials, the temporary dam, which usually goes up in late June, will not be installed, to make it easier to work in the river channel for the ongoing renovation of the Healdsburg Memorial Bridge.

Sonoma County officials apologized this week for catching Healdsburg City Council members off guard with their decision to not erect the dam at Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, a county park that draws considerable summertime traffic.

County Parks Director Caryl Hart said the county was trying to accommodate the city’s contractor renovating the bridge just upstream.

“I take full responsibility for this,” she said Tuesday. “It was our fault we didn’t let the City Council know.”

The contractor on the bridge work, Granite Construction Co., agreed to pay the county $75,000 to not put in the temporary dam, making it easier for the company to build a new bridge center pier, but also lowering water levels for recreational use.

Healdsburg City Council members expressed dismay that the deal was struck without their knowledge, saying it did not take into account the recreational and monetary losses to the community in losing the public swimming hole for another year. The seasonal structure was undergoing repairs last year and was not erected.

“I’m very disappointed in the lack of communication,” said Councilman Gary Plass, reflecting the sentiment of other council members.

“A large segment of our community - hardworking, blue-collar folks who may get a day off - want to go to the river and swim in that lagoon. It’s a place for them to congregate with family and enjoy life a little bit,” he said, adding that not only residents of Healdsburg, but other north county communities flock to the park in the summer.

Healdsburg Memorial Beach is the only spot on the Russian River where the county puts up a major dam for swimming and recreation, Hart said.

During much of the 20th century, the dam was higher, creating a lake for water skiing, diving and a venue for elaborate water carnivals with floats and bathing beauties.

Plass said there was some excitement that the new dam was going to create a higher water level this summer, like in its heyday. “Then all of a sudden in mid-April, (we hear) it’s not going to go up,” he said, voicing his dismay.

North County Supervisor James Gore on Thursday said it was a communication breakdown, and he apologized to City Council members for not informing them directly about the dam.

“My assumption is we had done adequate outreach to the city, and my assumption was wrong,” he said.

Hart said that when the dam was absent last year, the number of visitors declined, “but not dramatically,” and a lot of families with young children like the lower water level, she said.

County statistics appear to show the opposite. Lifeguards counted 16,894 visitors to Memorial Beach in 2013 when the dam was in. There was a precipitous drop - by more than half - to 6,692 last year when the dam was not installed.

But part of that decline is likely the result of the cancellation of the crowd-drawing Healdsburg Water Carnival, which was re-instituted in 2011 before being suspended last year when the dam’s metal hardware frame and eroded concrete were being repaired.

Hart said it was her intention to keep the city “completely in the loop” and city officials were informed the county was in discussions with the contractor to not erect the dam this summer.

“We did let staff know at the city this was going on,” she said. “We didn’t get back to them and say ‘Now we’ve signed an agreement.’ We told them we’re discussing this and did they have any issues?”

But city staff members characterized their conversation with their county counterparts differently.

“Some time ago I had a conversation with someone from the county, asking if it was required the dam come down for the project,” said City Manager David Mickaelian. “My response was absolutely not. The project was bid to have the dam up.”

Healdsburg Senior Engineer Mario Landeros said the $10 million contract with Granite Construction for the bridge rehabilitation specified that the dam would be in place this year and the water at full depth. But apparently it didn’t prohibit the contractor from striking a side deal with the county to change the water level.

“He (Granite Construction’s project manager) was evaluating how he was going to get in there and do the work within the time frame and budget they had established, and quite frankly thought something had to change here for his benefit,” Landeros said. “Call it a little boon he was able to garner out of this. By paying the county to keep it (the dam) down, he’s reduced his expense.”

“From a project standpoint, we could not tell him ‘No, you can’t do that,’ said Doug Reis, the engineering consultant hired by Healdsburg to oversee the bridge work.

Landeros said the lower water level reduces the complexity involved in building a new center pier for the bridge, set to begin June 15.

The contractor is obliged to have the bridge reopened to motor vehicle traffic by Oct. 15, or face financial penalties.

It was during an update on the bridge work this week that City Council members found out the project is on schedule, but were disappointed to discover the dam will not go in.

“I would think we would have been notified, because it affects us materially in some way,” said Councilman Tom Chambers. “It’s really disconcerting to me, and I’m sure the county was happy to take the money and not put the dam up. And we’re the ones kind of left holding the bag.”

County Parks Director Hart said her office was simply trying to work with the contractor to assist in getting the bridge work done.

She said the county and city have enjoyed a great working relationship, but “it was our fault we didn’t let the City Council know. I feel terrible about it.”

Hart said the $75,000 from Granite is meant to offset lost admission revenue at the park. It will go toward operational expenses at Healdsburg Memorial Beach and possibly toward improvements, such as a children’s’ play structure.

Even though the water level will be lower without the dam, she said lifeguards will be on duty weekends and holidays.

You can reach Staff Writer Clark Mason at 521-5214 or clark.mason?@pressdemocrat.com. ?On Twitter @clarkmas.