Bend Park and Recreation District
DRT – South UGB Bridge and Trail Option Presentation
4/8/15
DRT – South UGB Bridge and Trail Option Evaluation
In 2008, the Bend Park and Recreation District (District) completed a Trails Master Plan that includes a fully developed DRT extending through the District. The Trails Master Plan proposed developing a system of multiuse off-street primary trails that connect to the US Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other regional trails within Deschutes County. The existing trail network includes a core system of regional trails that serve as the backbone of the trails network. As proposed in the Trails Master Plan, a complementary system of connector trails through neighborhoods would also support the core system. BPRD Bond Measure 9-86 was approved by District voters in 2012 and included the improvement and completion of the missing segments of the Deschutes River Trail through the Bend Urban Area. This project is one of those missing segments.
1/27/15
Project Purpose The purpose of the Deschutes River Trail - South Urban Growth Boundary Bridge and Trail project is to provide a Deschutes River Trail (DRT) connection to fill a gap generally between the southern end of the existing trail at River Rim Park and the northern terminus of the DRT (US Forest Service) on the west side of the Deschutes River, south of the City of Bend Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). This would include extended trails and a new footbridge over the river.
1/27/15
Evaluation - Why are we looking at options? An evaluation of multiple concepts is a requirement of any federal environmental process if the bridge crosses the Wild and Scenic River upstream from the Bend City Limits, or for a Special Use Permit that would be required by the US Forest Service if any portion of the project would impact federal lands in the Deschutes National Forest. The Special Use Permit must be consistent with the current Deschutes National Forest Plan and the 1996 Upper Deschutes River Comprehensive Resource Management Plan (UDCMP). Once there is a preferred alternative, BPRD would submit an application to the USFS for a Special Use Permit if the preferred option impacts federal land. The USFS uses specific criteria to deem the application complete, which includes analyzing other reasonable alternatives off of federal land, before a preferred alternative was selected. Once the application is approved, BPRD could then proceed with engineering and environmental analysis. Working with a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), BPRD staff and consultants developed a set of criteria to help evaluate various bridge and trail concepts to meet the federal process. The criterion compare how well the proposed options meet the Project Purpose and Need. While this level of analysis was done without the benefit of detailed engineering and surveying (which will come later), the USFS has stated that it does provide an adequate basis for determining a preferred option to move forward for a Special Use Permit. The analysis includes the use of BPRD’s Geographic Information System (GIS), recent aerial imagery, city/county land use data, as well as state and federal data and regulations. Performance measures were developed as a mix of qualitative and quantitative assessments based on the criteria and the availability of data at this stage of evaluation. Once the CAC determines a preferred bridge and trail option, more detailed engineering and environmental evaluations will take place on that option.
Evaluation - Why are we doing this if new bridges are not allowed to cross this part of the river? A bridge in this general location has been identified in planning documents going back to 1995. The UDCMP was adopted in 1996 and included interim guidelines on how to manage the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers and the Upper Deschutes River. Those guidelines specified that new crossings of the river were to be discouraged. The federal Wild and Scenic river in this location has no bridge prohibition. Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) Section 736-040 that established the Oregon Park and Recreation Department’s (OPRD) management of the State Scenic Waterway Program, included a complete prohibition of new bridges and crossings of the river in this Upper Deschutes specific location as well as over the Metolius River. These are the only two sections with this prohibition in the state. There is an OAR process to work around this prohibition, but while it will take time and legislative action, we feel that working with OPRD it will be possible to amend the OAR to allow for non-vehicular bridges, and it is worth the effort to try and establish this important river crossing.
Deschutes River Trail South UGB Bridge
and Trail Range of Option
Combinations
Each Bridge and Trail Option Identified on the
Following Pages was Evaluated Against an Initial Set of 13 Criteria that was
Later Expanded to 23
1D) Unimproved County Road
1A) Existing Public Use Trail (RiverRim)
1B) Public Park (BPRD)
1C) Private Property (need easement)
1E) Improved County Road
1F) 25’ Public Access Easement
(River Bend Estates)
1G) 20’ Public Easement for Fishing Access Only
(River Bend Estates)
Option 1
Option 1 – South River Bend Drive Bridge
River Rim Dr.
Cinder Cone
River
Length: 1.7 miles Elevation Gain: 283’ Loss: 311’ Max Slope: 33% Average Slope: 6.2%
River width Greater than 165’
Proposed Critical Spotted Frog Habitat (between green lines)
Improved Public Roads
25’ Public Access Easement
(River Bend Estates)
20’ Public Easement for Fishing Access Only (River Bend Estates)
Option 1
2D) Unimproved County Road
2A) Existing Public Use Trail (RiverRim)
2B) Public Park (BPRD)
2C) Private Property (need easement)
2E) Private Property (need easement)
2J) 20’ Public Easement for Fishing Access Only
(River Bend Estates)
2F) Improved County Road
(gravel)
2G) Improved County Road
(paved)
2H) Private Property (need easement)
2I) Public Land (USFS)
Option 2A
Option 2A – North River Bend Drive Bridge (Non-Easement Trail)
River Rim Dr.
Cinder Cone
River
Length: 1.4 miles Elevation Gain: 201’ Loss: 230’ Max Slope: 33% Average Slope: 5.5%
Option 2A
River width Greater than 165’
Proposed Critical Spotted Frog Habitat (between green lines)
Public Road (Buck Canyon)
Private Property (need easement)
20’ Public Easement for Fishing Access Only (River Bend Estates)
Public Land (USFS)
2D) Unimproved County Road
2A) Existing Public Use Trail (RiverRim)
2B) Public Park (BPRD)
2C) Private Property (need easement)
2H) 20’ Public Easement for Fishing Access Only
(River Bend Estates)
2F) Improved County Road
(gravel)
2G) 25’ Public Access Easement
(River Bend Estates)
Option 2B
2E) Private Property (need easement)
Option 2B – North River Bend Drive Bridge (Easement Trail)
River Rim Dr.
Cinder Cone
River
Length: 1.4 miles Elevation Gain: 182’ Loss: 214’ Max Slope: 44% Average Slope: 5.5%
Option 2B
River width Greater than 165’
Proposed Critical Spotted Frog Habitat (between green lines)
Public Road (Buck Canyon)
20’ Public Easement for Fishing Access Only (River Bend Estates)
25’ Public Access Easement
(River Bend Estates)
3D) Unimproved County Road
3A) Existing Public Use Trail (RiverRim)
3B) Public Park (BPRD)
3C) Private Property (need easement)
3F) Improved County Road
(gravel)
3G) Improved County Road
(paved)
3J) Private Property (need easement)
3I) Public Land (USFS)
3H) Private Property (need easement)
Option 3A
2E) Private Property (need easement)
Option 3A – USFS Bridge (River Rim Trail)
River
Cinder Cone
River Rim Dr.
Length: 1.4 miles Elevation Gain: 208’ Loss: 243’ Max Slope: 37% Average Slope: 6.1%
Option 3A
River width Greater than 165’ (red cross-hatch)
Proposed Critical Spotted Frog Habitat (between green lines)
Public Road (Buck Canyon)
City of Bend mapped wetland
Private Property (need easement)
Public Land (USFS)
City Limits (UGB)
Option 3B – USFS Bridge (Thompson Trail)
River
River ASI
River Rim Park
Length: 0.8 miles Elevation Gain: 94’ Loss: 90’ Max Slope: 22% Average Slope: 4%
Option 3B
River width Greater than 165’ (red cross-hatch)
Proposed Critical Spotted Frog Habitat (between green lines)
Helen M. Thompson Wildlife Refuge
City of Bend mapped wetland
Private Property (need easement)
Public Land (USFS)
City Limits (UGB)
3A) Existing Public Use Trail (River Rim)
3B) Public Park (BPRD)
3C) Private Property (need easement)
3E) Helen M. Thompson
Wildlife Refuge
Option 3C
3D) Private Property (need easement)
Option 3C – Thompson Alternative
River Rim Trail
Cinder Cone
River
Length: 1.2 miles Elevation Gain: 149’ Loss: 173’ Max Slope: 30% Average Slope: 5.3%
Option 3C – Connection to Potential Parking (@ Buck Canyon)
3C intersection
Possible Parking
River
Length: 0.2 miles Elevation Gain: 50’ Loss: 22’ Max Slope: 33% Average Slope: 5.4%
Option 3C
River width Greater than 165’ (red cross-hatch)
Proposed Critical Spotted Frog Habitat (between green lines)
Helen M. Thompson Wildlife Refuge
City of Bend mapped wetland
Private Property (need easement)
Public Land (USFS)
City Limits (UGB)
4F) Public Trail on Private Property
4A) Public Park (BPRD)
4B) Private Property within City ASI (need easement)
4C) Private Trail (Sunrise Village HOA,
need easement)
4D) Private Streets (Braeburn HOA, need easement)
4E) Public Trail (BPRD) Option 4
4G) Connection to USFS trail is 1 mile
from river
Option 4 – River Rim Park Bridge Length: 2.7 miles Elevation Gain: 303’ Loss: 325’ Max Slope: 43% Average Slope: 4.2%
River Rim Park
Sunrise Village
Haul Road Trail
USFS Land
River
Option 4
River width Greater than 165’ (red cross-hatch)
Proposed Critical Spotted Frog Habitat (between green lines)
Private Property (need easement)
River Rim Park (BPRD)
Private Property (need easement)
Private Property (need easement) Private Property,
Sunrise Village HOA (need easement)
City of Bend River Area of Significant
Interest (ASI) (purple shading)
5E) Public Trail on Private Property
5A) Private property (COID, need easement)
5B) Private Trail (Sunrise Village HOA,
need easement)
5C) Private Streets (Braeburn HOA, need easement)
5D) Public Trail (BPRD)
5F) Connection to USFS trail is 1 mile
from river
Option 5
Option 5 – COID Intake Bridge
River Canyon Park
Sunrise Village
Haul Road Trail
USFS Land
River
Length: 2.8 miles Elevation Gain: 363’ Loss: 391’ Max Slope: 42% Average Slope: 4.9%
Option 5
River width Greater than 165’ (red cross-hatch)
Proposed Critical Spotted Frog Habitat (between green lines)
River Canyon Park (BPRD)
Private Property, COID access road (need easement)
Private Property, Sunrise Village HOA
(need easement)
City of Bend River Area of Significant
Interest (ASI) (purple shading)
COID Canal Intake, river downstream is
not a federal or state scenic waterway
Deschutes River Trail South UGB Bridge and Trail
Possible Timeline (assumes federal process)