September "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")

• SLPOA has hired a lobbyist, Alan Edelstein of Edelstein and Gilbert, to monitor water and other issues in Sacramento that may effect the development and to contact legislators and state government officials on our behalf.
• Donner Summit Area Association (DSAA) presented a water rights seminar at Sugar Bowl. The well attended seminar featured three local experts, Peter Van Zant from Sierra Watch, Jason Rainey from the South Yuba River Citizen's League (SYRCL) and Otis Wollan from the Placer County Water Authority (PCWA). The seminar covered legal and environmental water issues and their applications to development on Donner Summit. DSAA and SLPOA prepared notes from the seminar which can be found on the  “Documents” page.
• The results of a Biological Resources Survey commissioned by Royal Gorge in 2006 has been released along with a third party review of the survey. The survey and the third party review were the subject of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Royal Gorge and the Sierra Club, Mountain Area Preservation Foundation, North Fork of the American River Alliance, the Sierra Business Counsel and the Donner Summit Area Association. The groups hired Dr Mike White to review the survey. The review concluded that the Biological Resources Survey was inadequate and much more work is needed. The Survey, its companion Wetlands Survey, the Review and associated documents can be found on the  “Documents” page.

Upcoming Events:

• October 23: Fran Freedle will give a guest speaker presentation on the proposed development to the Tahoe Truckee Republican Women Federation meeting. Time and place TBD, guests are welcome.
• The next SLCWD water board meeting is October TBD, 5PM at the water district offices. Please attend if you can. Availability of water for the development is a major concern, and you should hear what the water district has to say, and the water district needs to hear what you have to say.

Recent Publications: (for links to these and other publications see "articles")

• My turn articles from the Sierra Sun: Being Frank and Honest on the Summit, and Deal with Facts and Logic, not Summit Spin
• September issue of the Donner Summit Clarion

Current Placer County Status:

• Crystal Jacobson, lead planner for Placer County, says that Royal Gorge LLC will be holding a second pre-application meeting with the County, as the first (last June) was inadequate. Revised specific plan and descriptions need to be turned in. Ms Jacobson expects this meeting to be in the next month. After the new pre-application, she expects a formal application to follow in about three months.
• Water is still Royal Gorge LLC's main issue and must be resolved. Ms Jacobson on September 19th indicated that water supply needs to be shown for 100% occupancy.

Web Sites of Interest:

www.saveserenelakes.org

www.saveVanNordenMeadow.org

www.savethesummit.com

www.savedonnersummit.org

www.saveroyalgorge.org

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