PLACER COUNTY WATER AGENCY VOL 41 NO 3 JUNE/JULY 2019

UPDATE

Nate Rangel, of Raft California, has been guiding raft trips on the Middle Fork American River since 1984. “The Middle Fork is a beautiful wilderness trip with a unique set of challenging rapids, but it’s the natural beauty of the canyon that really sets it apart,” said Rangel.

According to Rangel, commercial rafting trips on the river most likely started in the late 1970s; however, it was in the mid-80s that people started flocking to the resource. Today, commercial recreation on the Middle Fork American River draws, on average, 14,000 to 16,000 guests per year.

The benefits of commercial river operations go beyond exposure to beautiful aesthetics and adrenaline-rushing rapids. “Commercial outfitting is the engine that drives many rural economies,” said Rangel. “We hire guides, drivers, reservation personnel, commissary helpers, and mechanics to maintain and repair vehicles.” Since many

outfitters provide meals on their trips, they are also on-the-go “restaurants,” buying food from local providers.

PCWA assists this thriving river recreation through its Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project. Rangel explains, “Absent the coordinated managed flows, we wouldn’t be able to offer services throughout the summer in most water year types. Our negotiation with PCWA for its new FERC license set in motion a suite of actions that equitably balance all the beneficial uses of the river.”

Rafting on the Middle Fork American River runs mid-May through September most years, and provides an opportunity to experience the cultural and gold mining history of the area.  

Profiles in Water: Whitewater Rafting on the Middle Fork American River

PAGE 1 • PCWA UPDATE

The world-renowned “Tunnel Chute” is a manmade rapid, created by miners blasting through granite mountainsides in search of gold. It is “unlike any rapid in the world that I’m aware of,” explains Rangel.

General Manager’s ReportBy Einar Maisch

In California’s San Joaquin Valley there are several poor farming communities where the groundwater

has been contaminated by years of pesticide and fertilizer use on the overlying farmland. Many of the residents are low-skilled farm workers who cannot afford to pay the operating costs, let alone the capital costs, of treatment systems to provide clean drinking water. This is deeply concerning; every person in California should be able to drink the water from the faucet in his or her home. The California Legislature is trying to figure out how to fund a solution and the popular choice appears to be a tax on customers’ treated water bills throughout the state.

PCWA opposes a water tax for a number of reasons. First, taxes are supposed to be levied on luxury items – not necessities. This is why there is no sales tax on food, unless it’s prepared by others. Groceries are a necessity; going out to eat is a luxury. Likewise, water is not a luxury, it is the most basic of human needs, before shelter and before food.

Second, the proposed tax will turn water agencies into tax collectors, who will remit the money to Sacramento to be dispersed as the government sees fit. In addition to the loss of local funds for local needs, the programming

required to update our current billing and accounting system will only add costs to customers. To ensure proper compliance, we would have to add more staff or hire outside consultants. These costs are not trivial.

Finally, the water tax is the proverbial “camel’s nose under the tent.” If the drinking water tax passes, it would open up an entirely new avenue of hidden taxation and we could see a slew of additional water taxes to fund things such as the Delta tunnel, water conservation, water recycling, supply enhancement, environmental restoration, or forest wildfire fuels reduction. I’m not necessarily against any of those things, but as matters of social importance the issues should compete with other priorities for funding from the state’s General Fund.

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has proposed an alternate funding solution. Take $1 billion of the state’s current $20 billion surplus and put it into a reserve account and then use the interest on that money to subsidize the capital and operating costs of water treatment for communities with contaminated water supplies. PCWA supports ACWA’s approach, and will continue to defend our customers’ investments as we seek a solution to this problem and other water concerns.

The “Water Spots” Video Contest, sponsored by the Regional Water Authority and local water providers, including PCWA, has announced its 2019 winners. Taking First Place, were Hannah Van Der Kamp and Julia Williams from Whitney High School in Rocklin! Their video, “A Day in the Life of a Watersaver,” beat out over 100 other submittals. Their grand prize winnings include $500 cash, to be split with their sponsoring teacher Ben Barnholdt, and a premiere of their video at local movie theaters in June. Students Bethany Oh and Alyssa Pearce were also recognized as their video received

the top score among online votes for Whitney High School participants. Now in its eighth year, the “Water Spots” Video Contest challenges middle and high school students throughout the Sacramento region to create public service announcement videos focused on water efficiency.

This year’s theme was “Show Off Your Water Smarts.” Expert judges narrowed videos down to 10 finalists and then selected the top three winners for “Judge’s Choice” awards.

Congratulations to Hannah, Julia, Bethany, Alyssa, and Mr. Barnholdt and all those who participated in this year’s event.

The top scoring videos can be viewed on Be Water Smart’s YouTube channel (YouTube.com/BeWaterSmartinfo). To learn water‐wise tips and for more information visit BeWaterSmart.info.

2019 “Water Spots” Video Contest Winners Announced

The Proposed State Water Tax

PCWA UPDATE

Contest winners, Bethany Oh, Alyssa Pearce, Hannah Van Der Kamp, and Julia Williams.

PCWA UPDATE

Declare Your Independence from Overwatering With a Weather-Based Sprinkler Timer

Water-Wise Tips For SummerSummer is here and with it are hotter temperatures and typically an increase in outdoor water use. You can be water-wise and have a healthier, happier yard by using these techniques:

It’s Smart Irrigation Month

Repeat up to 3 times, if needed

Wait 1 hour and check

soil moisture

Cycle and Soak

Water for3 minutes or

until you see runoff.

Upgrade Your Sprinklers:Replacing pop-up sprinklers with efficient rotator sprinklers can help use 30 percent less water. Rotator sprinklers deliver heavy droplets at a slower rate which is more easliy absorbed by the soil. More water gets to your plants and less is lost to evaporation or runoff.

Water Early in the MorningMake sure to set your sprinklers to run first thing in the morning to reduce water loss from evaporation.

Looks can be deceiving. The best way to tell if your plants need water is by checking the soil moisture level. Pick up a complimentary moisture meter at the PCWA Business Center, while supplies last.

Programming your sprinkler timer with this method will allow the soil to better absorb water and reduce runoff.

Cycle and Soak1. Water for 3 minutes or until you see runoff2. Wait 1 hour and check soil moisture3. Repeat up to 3 times if needed

Knowing how long your sprinklers should run can be challenging. If your sprinklers run for too long or too short a duration, your plants will suffer. Fortunately, there is an easy way to eliminate this headache:

WaterSense-labeled weather-based sprinkler timers.

Instead of running on a preset schedule, weather-based sprinkler timers use local weather conditions to adjust how long your sprinklers run. When the weather is cooler, the controller automatically reduces sprinkler runtimes and increases them when the temperatures rise.

Replacing a standard timer with a weather-based one can save the average Sacramento-area home more than 7600 gallons of water a year.

Weather-based timers are a great way to take the wonder and worry out of watering. Even better, you can get a $500 rebate from PCWA. Learn more at pcwa.net.

Your ElectedBoard of Directors

PCWA is an independent public agency governed by an elected Board of Directors. Directors represent each of five districts in Placer County and are elected by voters to four-year terms.

Your PCWA Board of Directors:

DISTRICT 1: Gray AllenDISTRICT 2: Primo SantiniDISTRICT 3: Mike Lee (2019 Chairman) DISTRICT 4: Robert Dugan (2019 Vice Chairman)DISTRICT 5: Joshua Alpine

Public MeetingsThe Placer County Water Agency Board of Directors meets regularly the first and third Thursdays of each month at 2 p.m. at the Placer County Water Agency Business Center, 144 Ferguson Road, in Auburn. The public is welcome.

www.pcwa.net

This newsletter is published as a public service of the

PLACER COUNTYWATER AGENCYMAILING: P.O. Box 6570 Auburn, CA 95604

Location: 144 Ferguson Road Auburn, California 95603

(530) 823-4850(800) 464-0030

General Manager: Einar MaischNewsletter Editor: Brie Anne Coleman

At the May 16 meeting of the Placer County Water Agency Board of Directors, the Board awarded eight grants totaling $165,000 to six public water purveyors in Placer County. The grants, funded through PCWA’s Financial Assistance Program, are supported, in part, through property taxes and assist Placer County special districts on projects that align with PCWA’s guiding principles of its County-Wide Master Plan. These principles include safe and reliable drinking water service, water resources stewardship, and water infrastructure reliability. The 2019 grant recipients are as follows:

Christian Valley Park Community Service District – Awarded $13,860 for costs associated with a rate study.

Foresthill Public Utility District – Awarded $30,000 to support the District’s application for its water rights permit extension.

Midway Heights County Water District – Awarded three grants totaling more than $41,000 for a cost of service and rate study, an income study, and a GIS mapping project.

Northstar Community Services District – Awarded $20,000 to perform an Infrastructure Condition Assessment.

Squaw Valley Public Service District – Awarded $10,000 for asset management implementation and GIS database updates.

Tahoe City Public Utility District – Awarded $50,000 for the planning and construction of interconnections among water systems within the District’s service area, improving water supply reliability.

Don’t be fooled by calm water on a clear day. Many seemingly tranquil waterways can present dangerous hazards. Follow these river safety tips:• Never swim alone. • Always wear a lifejacket.• Avoid alcohol around water. • Learn lifesaving skills.• Take care when walking on slippery or uneven surfaces around or in water.• Water levels and speed can change daily depending on water release from reservoirs and snowmelt during the summer.• River water is colder than you might think! Record snowpack has made for lower than average water temperatures this year. Always use caution when first entering the water.(Reprinted with permission from CalFire)

PCWA UPDATE

RIVER SAFETY

PCWA Awards Eight Grants to Placer County Public Water Purveyors

@PlacerWater@ThePCWA @ThePCWA

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