Amador County - Consultants for the East Bay Municipal Utilities District, or EBMUD, say raising the Pardee Reservoir will have no significant impact on kayaking or whitewater rafting, despite concerns expressed by river recreation organizations and conservationists. At a workshop last Monday evening in the Amador Water Agency, an overflowing crowd listened intently as EBMUD consultant David Blau, among others, said that raising the dam another 33 feet would have no significant impact on the Mokelumne’s whitewater rapids. Blau expressed the same belief to a crowd of 30 at a workshop in Lodi on Monday afternoon. He said that water would be released during rainy winters and water levels adjusted accordingly. However, many opponents to the proposed expansion are still skeptical, including one Lodi official in attendance who calls Blau’s assessment, “a whitewashing designed to appeal to those who are creating EBMUD’s 2040 Water Plan.” During Amador’s workshop, opponents from diverse backgrounds claimed that higher water levels would not only destroy existing recreation areas, but cause significant environmental damage as well. Councilman Keith Sweet read a Jackson City Council resolution passed unanimously last week in opposition to Pardee’s expansion. The City of Jackson has made significant investments in river recreation through the years. Perhaps the biggest opponent to the proposal is the Foothill Conservancy, which considers preservation of the Mokelumne River one of its top priorities. “We don’t feel we should have to give up more of our river so people in the east bay can take longer showers and water their lawn,” said Katherine Evatt, Board Director for the Foothill Conservancy. The proposed dam expansion is part of EBMUD’s 2040 Water Plan. EBMUD Spokesman Charles Hardy says it will still take 10 to 15 years for district officials to decide the feasibility of the project. EBMUD supplies water from the Mokelumne to customers throughout the East Bay Area. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 23 March 2009 00:45
Mokelumne River Workshop
Amador County - Consultants for the East Bay Municipal Utilities District, or EBMUD, say raising the Pardee Reservoir will have no significant impact on kayaking or whitewater rafting, despite concerns expressed by river recreation organizations and conservationists. At a workshop last Monday evening in the Amador Water Agency, an overflowing crowd listened intently as EBMUD consultant David Blau, among others, said that raising the dam another 33 feet would have no significant impact on the Mokelumne’s whitewater rapids. Blau expressed the same belief to a crowd of 30 at a workshop in Lodi on Monday afternoon. He said that water would be released during rainy winters and water levels adjusted accordingly. However, many opponents to the proposed expansion are still skeptical, including one Lodi official in attendance who calls Blau’s assessment, “a whitewashing designed to appeal to those who are creating EBMUD’s 2040 Water Plan.” During Amador’s workshop, opponents from diverse backgrounds claimed that higher water levels would not only destroy existing recreation areas, but cause significant environmental damage as well. Councilman Keith Sweet read a Jackson City Council resolution passed unanimously last week in opposition to Pardee’s expansion. The City of Jackson has made significant investments in river recreation through the years. Perhaps the biggest opponent to the proposal is the Foothill Conservancy, which considers preservation of the Mokelumne River one of its top priorities. “We don’t feel we should have to give up more of our river so people in the east bay can take longer showers and water their lawn,” said Katherine Evatt, Board Director for the Foothill Conservancy. The proposed dam expansion is part of EBMUD’s 2040 Water Plan. EBMUD Spokesman Charles Hardy says it will still take 10 to 15 years for district officials to decide the feasibility of the project. EBMUD supplies water from the Mokelumne to customers throughout the East Bay Area. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
