"Save Serene Lakes" update for January 2009:
Note: Tell friends to go to www.saveserenelakes.org and sign up for these monthly email updates.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!
Special: Join a new FaceBook group
A save Donner Summit group has been started on FaceBook. If you want to participate, register with www.facebook.com and then search for "Save our Summit California" or register and go to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48021665893
News: (for a complete news timeline see "news timeline")
- DSPUD's general manager announced that the February 10th DSPUD board meeting will feature a discussion of its new wastewater discharge permit application which is being considered by California's water quality control board. The new application is asking that some of the maximum contamination levels in the discharge be relaxed because the effluent is diluted by the South Yuba River, a request that may not be granted because the river is virtually dry in fall and early winter.
- The SLCWD water board meeting presented a new version of the "Lake Management" resolution for consideration. The resolution states that the lake level should not be allowed to fall more than 3 feet below the dam's crest. The board also reported that the district's water permit was incorrectly issued 44 years ago to allow for storage of water and use from storage, but not for the direct pumping of water from Serene Lakes while water is flowing. It appears the district will need to petition for a change in its permit to allow for "direct diversion." The petition process may be expensive and open the permit up for comment and challenges by other water districts.
- A Sierra Sun article discusses DSPUD's $49,000 fine: Fine for Donner Summit utility discharge
- DSPUD is asking for a hearing to respond to the water quality control board's $49,000 fine regarding the June algae growth in the South Yuba River and several nitrate discharge violations. DSPUD's response can be found here: aclcresponse.pdf. SYRCL's comments regarding the fine can be found here: SYRCL_Comments_on_DSPUD_ACL.pdf. Another comment can be found here: comments_gray12-29-2008.pdf.
Upcoming Events:
- January 24: Saturday 10AM-noon, Donner Trail School. DSAA will present the results of their community prosperity meeting (Charette) held in November. DSAA materials handed out at the Charette suggested new development is required to pay for sewage plant improvements.
- February 10: Tuesday 6 PM, DSPUD headquarters. The February DSPUD board meeting will feature a presentation about DSPUD's upcoming discharge permit which may allow more pollution of the South Yuba River.
- February 13: Friday 5 PM, SLCWD Water district offices. The February 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.
Recent Publications: (for links to these and other publications see "articles")
Current Placer County Status:
- No changes to report. Royal Gorge has not contacted the County for over six months.
Quotes of the month:
"For one that comes into the wilderness with a pencil to sketch or sing, a thousand come with an ax or rifle." -Henry David Thoreau
"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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