"Save Serene Lakes" update for February 2009:
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")
- Rumors have been flying around that Royal Gorge may be selling out to Sugar Bowl or others. See this YubaNet.com editorial for one writer's opinion.
- Crystal Jacobson of Placer County planning reports that they have not heard anything from Royal Gorge- a total silence of over six months. Ms. Jacobson also clarified that the County will require a second egress for 50 or more units, a number specified by the fire department. She said that the limit could even be lower depending upon circumstances, citing examples where a second egress was required for 20 and 25 unit subdivisions.
- DSAA and Sierra Business Council published the results from their Community Prosperity Summit (Charrette) held in November. The results reflect the recent DSAA survey that emphasized the community's priority of retaining the area's historic and rural atmosphere. The results encourage developing new activities (bike events, concerts, etc.) and improving infrastructure (roads, trails, train, appearance, etc) to bring more year-round visitors. The results, which can be found on the DSAA webpage, summarize the planning charrette's suggestions.
- The SLCWD water board meeting was extremely lively:
- While not on the agenda, a discussion about the district's proposed Lake Level Management resolution was precipitated by a letter (LeBel_lot_moratorium_letter) asserting that the resolution would prevent lot owners from building on their property. The letter is full of inaccuracies which are described in: LeBel_letter_analysis. Arguments followed, resulting in many unseemly exchanges. The arguments digressed into whose fault it is that the district's water permit is in limbo, which was the next subject discussed at the meeting
- The problem with the permit, written 40 years ago as a storage permit, is that it specifies that water can only be stored in, and used from, the lake. Actually the district both stores water in the lake and "directly diverts" water from Serena Creek when water is flowing into the lake. Because of the way the permit was written, the district may be illegally diverting water when the water is flowing "through the lakes" as it does in the spring.
- The district is working to correct the permit, both through the state water board and through local elected officials, but it is unclear (except for costing a lot of money) what will happen. It appears that the City of Santa Cruz has the same permit problems relating to its use of Loch Lomond.
- It was also reported that the district's efforts to obtain the lake bottom through eminent domain are on hold due to appraisal issues.
- Finally, the district hired Waterworks Engineers to review DSPUD's plans to upgrade the sewage treatment plant.
- DSPUD, the area's sewage district, held a meeting at Sugar Bowl to review the tentative sewage discharge permit released by the state. Representatives from DSPUD, their engineering consultants (Eco:Logic) and the State water quality control board spoke:
- The proposed permit keeps the plant at the same capacity (no new hookups beyond what are currently available), but lowers the ammonia discharge limit down from 5 mg/L to 2.1 mg/L. Depending upon whether dilution in the South Yuba River is allowed or not, the nitrate discharge limit will either be relaxed to 18 mg/L or remain the same at 10 mg/L.
- Allowing relaxed standards based upon dilution was a controversial topic, as it may raise the pollution level in the river and increase the likelihood of more algae blooms.
- Eco:Logic described how the treatment plant might be upgraded to meet the new limits. Eco:Logic expects the upgrade cost to be extremely high (more than $10M), but conceded that more detailed work examining other options may show the cost to be much lower. For more details see: DSPUD_permit_review.
- The deadline for filing comments with the state is March 6th. See Notice of Public Hearing for details.
Upcoming Events:
- March 13: Friday 5 PM, SLCWD Water district offices. The March SLCWD board meeting will feature a presentation by Jason Rainey, Executive Director of the South Yuba Citizens League (SYRCL), regarding the health of the South Yuba River.
- March 14: Saturday 10 AM, Sugar Bowl Academy. DSAA Overland Emigrant Trail Seminar. A special Community Educational Seminar focused on the feasibility of establishing the route and building a trail
along the Overland Emigrant Trail from Roller Pass to Rainbow. For more details see the DSAA website.
Recent Publications: (for links to these and other publications see "articles")
- No changes to report. Royal Gorge has not contacted the County for over six months.
Quotes of the month:
"We won't fill the South Yuba,
With rivers of effluent,
To think that we planned that,
Is truly repugnant" -A Donner Summit Christmas Carol
"The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness." -John Muir
Web Sites of Interest:
www.SaveOurSummit.org
www.Slpoa.com
www.sldsca.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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