A small panel of experts on the UW-Eau Claire Chippewa Riverbank Stabilization Project, including Vice Chancellor Andy Soll, answered questions Thursday regarding new plans at a meeting held for interested faculty, staff and students.

After a brief summary of the history of the riverbank project, Soll opened the meeting for discussion. Facilities Planning and Management director Terry Classen and representatives from Ayres Associates were available to answer questions.

With a crowd of about six people, including two students, discussion centered around new plans for the riverbank and the recent assessment done by UW-Madison geo-environmental engineering professorÿTuncer Edil.

It is “highly likely” the bank’s instability would extend into Garfield Avenue, the main lower campus road, if floodwater reached the bank’s top, Edil stated in his report.

Concern over the bank’s stability stems from a large crack that formed in the area in front of McIntyre Library in 1993 due to high floods.

Darren Lochner, of the UW-Extension, commended the groupÿin dealing with the difficult situation and opening more lines of communication.ÿ

“Not everyone was seeing eye-to-eye … but we’ll have a successful project in the long run,” Lochner said.

Stan Carpenter, member of the Third Ward Neighborhood Association, said he is comfortable with the new assessment. He was concerned about the project’s possible effect downstream based on discussions at previous meetings. Using the more current data and hopefully putting less material in the river, Carpenter said it probably will have a better result for the environment.

Soll also mentioned that the sidewalk on the north side of Garfield Avenue, part of the original plan, might be eliminated in the new plan.

This is due to the likelihood of a more land-based design for the riverbank, Soll said, although it is too soon to tell.