January "Save Serene Lakes" update:
Note: Tell friends to go to www.saveserenelakes.org and sign up for these monthly email updates.
News: (for a complete news timeline see "news timeline")
- The Royal Gorge documents submitted to Placer County were finally released January 2nd after many California Public Records Act requests from citizens, an editorial by The Union newspaper, a freedom of information act request by The Union and an injunction notice sent by SLPOA's lawyer. The released documents can be found on www.saveserenelakes.org and www.slpoa.com/developmenthome.htm.
- A special SLCWD water board meeting was held January 11 concerning water supplies. SLCWD presented a "Surface Water Balance Model" for Serene Lakes and Royal Gorge presented their recently released "Water Supply Alternatives" study. Over 80 people attended the meeting. The SLCWD model can be used to predict the lake level on a day by day basis given different climatic and water demand scenarios. Ben Swann of CDM, Royal Gorge's water consultants, presented their water supply study. A summary of the problems with their study can be found in the document: "Royal Gorge Water Study Analysis: A Hodge-Podge of Fragile Sources".
- Royal Gorge told the Placer County planning department on January 7th that they will be filling their application in 3 to 4 weeks. Royal Gorge told the public on January 11th that it will be 1 to 2 months.
- The "Master Drainage Plan" maps submitted to the County include the subdivision lot placement and roads for Lake and Summit camp. These maps have been highlighted to show which lots are commercial/condominium areas, which lots are townhome/duplex/attached cabin areas and which lots are single family residences. The annotated maps are:
Rather than being compact, these camps sprawl all over the Royal Gorge land. Cross-condo skiing anyone?
- In touting the amount of open space in their new "specific plan", Royal Gorge claims that space between buildings is open space, that Serene Lakes is open space for Ski Camp, and that the strip of Royal Gorge Land in Van Norden Meadow near Sugar Bowl is open space for Summit Camp. Actual open space in Lake, Summit and Ski Camps are closer to 60%, not the 85% claimed. Note that Royal Gorge also claims that 60% of the land is not buildable.
Upcoming Events:
- January 15th, Tuesday, 6 PM. Royal Gorge will be presenting their wastewater treatment plans during the DSPUD board meeting.
- January 18th, Friday,6:30 PM potluck, 7:30 PM program, Seaman's Lodge, Nevada City. All are welcome. The Sierra Nevada Group of Sierra Club will host a talk by Carol Kennedy, Watershed Program Manager for the Tahoe National Forest, on how climate change is one of the greatest challenges to the Sierra. Her talk is relevant to the Serene Lakes' watershed.
- February 15: Friday, 6:30 PM potluck, 7:30 PM program. Seaman's Lodge, Nevada City. All are welcome. The Sierra Nevada Group of Sierra Club will host the talk: "Challenges on Donner Summit" featuring Peter Van Zant of Sierra Watch, Jason Rainey of SYRCL, and Bill Oudegeest of SLPOA.
Recent Publications: (for links to these and other publications see "articles")
- The following articles were published on the web, in the Sierra Sun, YubaNet or The Union:
Water Wanted: Royal Gorge seeks water from various sources (Sierra Sun, Jan 14 2008)
Develop or die? (Sierra Sun, Jan 8 2008)
Destroying a ski resort in order to save it
Royal Gorge posts disputed papers on web site (The Union, Jan 5 2008)
"Virtual Open space" on Donner Summit
Great expectations on Donner Summit
Meeting Agreed to on Release of Royal Gorge Documents (The Union, Dec 25 2007)
Good King Wenceslas on Donner Summit
Dispute flares over access to Donner development records (The Union, Dec 19, 2007)
Truth or Consequences on Donner Summit
Pave Every Mountain
Blackout on Donner Summit
Hide 'n Seek (and other games) On Donner Summit
- The January issue of the Donner Summit Clarion is available now.
Current Placer County Status:
Web Sites of Interest:
www.SaveOurSummit.org
www.sierrawatch.org
www.syrcl.org
www.saveserenelakes.org
www.saveVanNordenMeadow.org
www.savethesummit.com
www.savedonnersummit.org
www.saveroyalgorge.org
www.pissdsociety.com
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