Update on NorCal courses closed by fires

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I thought folks might be interested in how disc golf has been affected by the fires (and other recent disasters).

February 2017 - Oroville Dam Spillway Crisis floods Riverbend Park and destroys both the North and South courses. Many trees had to be removed for safety. Baskets have been replaced, but I'm unsure if the damaged tee pads have been replaced. Both courses are still closed pending re-opening of the park. Rumor is that it will be soon.

July 2018 - Stoney Fire burns through Bidwell Park in Chico, California, damaging and closing Peregrine Point Disc Golf Course. Most of the pine trees had to be removed for safety, most of the oaks are still standing. The Chico Outsiders are working to complete their responsibilities as weather permits. The course is closed while we are waiting on the city to burn brush piles and provide materials for fencing repair and mulch for high traffic areas.

November 2018 - Camp Fire destroys the town of Paradise and burns through Lava Creek Golf Course. The course was not badly damaged, but the owners do not plan to re-open until April or May 2019. The Camp Fire also burned through a private property tone pole course that was under development. That course also flooded in the rains that followed, but it has minimal damage and actually helped clear things out a little.

Photos from Peregrine Point 1/24/19:

 

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Riverbend Park in Oroville is once again open for play! The south course is currently flooded on holes 14-17, but the north course is all playable. Some new pin placements, some new tees, a few less trees - still recognizable by anyone that has played there. This really is good news since Peregrine and Lava Creek are still closed.

 

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Looks like Lava Creek hole 2 basket was destroyed. Rumor is late summer reopening at the earliest.

 

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Much of Riverbend Park in Oroville is flooded again. Recent heavy rains have prompted officials to release water from the newly repaired Oroville Dam spillway to make room in the lake for coming storms and snowmelt. Local disc golfers are scrambling to come up with a contingency plan for scheduled tournaments like Shasta Series and North Valley Series. We can't seem to catch a break.

 

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I went to the Bidwell Park & Playground Commission meeting last night to support the Chico Outsiders in reopening Peregrine Point. The meeting could not have gone better. More than a dozen disc golfers showed up, a few stood up and spoke about their support for disc golf and its importance in the community. There was really no opposition. The City staff recommended opening the course as soon as this weekend, once we can get some OB fencing put together. New alternate pin locations and new tee signs are also approved.

Article from the Chico ER:
https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/30/city-plans-on-reopening-peregrine-point-disc-golf-course-in-may