Placerville, CA May 13, 2009 - During their May 11 meeting, the El Dorado Irrigation District (district) board of directors received an update on water supplies throughout the watershed and in Folsom Lake. "Conditions are much better than they were at the last board meeting in late April," reported David Witter, the district's director of natural resources. "By May 20, we should have the final decision from the Bureau of Reclamation about how much water we can take from Folsom Lake this year. That will be an important factor in determining whether the drought declaration might be lifted earlier than anticipated."
On March 23, the board declared a stage 1 drought for the district's service area, primarily because at that time the Bureau of Reclamation-operator of Folsom Lake-had announced it would cut back the district's allotment from the lake by as much as 45 percent. More recently, the cutback was reduced to 35 percent.
"We anticipate that the greatly improved conditions at Folsom Lake mean the Bureau may allot the full amount we're entitled to," Witter said. "That would signal a positive change in our overall supplies this year."
Project at Sly Park recognized by statewide group
The district has earned the California Environmental Protection Award from the California Rural Water Association for the Hazel Meadow restoration project. In a report to the board, Dena McCann, EID environmental review specialist and project manager for the restoration, said the award makes the district eligible for national recognition. "We are now a candidate for the National Environmental Protection Award given by the National Rural Water Association next February," McCann said and added, "This project would not have been successful without grant funding from the California Department of Fish and Game and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the support of community groups and EID's board and staff."
The meadow, located in Sly Park Recreation Area-owned and operated by the district-is undergoing a major transformation aimed at rejuvenating its natural qualities, including its ability to filter out sediment and trap any pollutants that might otherwise flow from the nearby road and campground into Jenkinson Lake at the center of the park. The project is a component of the Sly Park master plan, adopted by the board in 2007.
Work began last fall and to date includes the removal of a large spoils pile and sediment dredged from the lake in the 1970s by the Bureau of Reclamation. Teams also reconfigured a culvert and inefficient drainage system to form a meandering swale, planted 4,155 native plants-with help from Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and constructed a wooden bridge and pathway that comply with the American with Disabilities Act and accommodate equestrians and their horses.
The next steps are to finalize the Sierra Nevada Conservancy grant funding contract, build a boardwalk and viewing platform through the meadow to the edge of the lake, and install educational signage. McCann said the project is expected to be completed in October.
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