Save the Mokelumne River from EBMUD Plan to Enlarge Pardee

Save the Mokelumne River from EBMUD Plan to Enlarge Pardee

by Dan Bacher

The East Bay Municipal Utility District is advancing a plan to enlarge Pardee Reservoir, a move that would drown an additional two miles of the Sierra Nevada's Mokelumne River, according to an action alert from Friends of the River (FOR).

"The threatened river is loved by many for its beauty for its beginning kayak runs and year-round trout angling," FOR stated. "It is very regrettable that EBMUD is cultivating the fear of future water shortages directly into needless river destruction and we’d like to add your voice to the chorus of opposition to this needless destruction."

"The key word is needless," FOR continued. "EBMUD does not need to drown more of the Moke, as many refer to the river, to get your water. There are a host of other real-world solutions. As a matter of fact, these alternatives have already been laid out for the EBMUD Board."

The plan to expand Pardee Reservoir is part of the draft environmental impact report for EBMUD's 2040 Water Supply Management Plan. The reservoir would be enlarged by more than 1,200 acres, inundating the historic Middle Bar Bridge and "destroying the river for whitewater recreation and stream fishing use," according to the Katherine Evatt, board president of the Foothill Conservancy.

Expanding Pardee would also flood the new whitewater boating takeout and parking area soon to be constructed below the Highway 49 Bridge; flood up to 4,000 feet of the Mokelumne Electra Run in high flow periods; inundate the historic and cultural resources of the Middle Bar area; and require construction of a new Highway 49 Bridge.

There are a series of public meetings coming up this and next week in Sutter Creek, Oakland and Walnut Creek that you should attend to comment on the EBMUD plan. Here are some talking points:

• Oppose enlargements of Pardee and Lower Bear Reservoirs.

• The Pardee reservoir enlargement will drown a segment of the Mokelumne River popular for kayaking and fishing, destroy existing and proposed public access facilities (including the Middle Bar Bridge), require the relocation of the Hwy 49 bridge, and seasonally inundate nearly a mile of the Mokelumne recommended for Wild & Scenic River protection by the Bureau of Land Management.

• The Lower Bear reservoir enlargement may alter Mokelumne River flows improved to benefit fish, wildlife and recreation that took years to negotiate as part of PG&E’s federal hydroelectric license.

• EBMUD’s proposed reservoir enlargements will thwart the decades of work that have gone into making the Mokelumne a more viable recreation resource that will economically benefit foothill communities.

• Urge the EBMUD Board to implement reasonable and achievable increases in water conservation, recycling, groundwater storage, and drought year rationing (when needed).

EBMUD customers - don’t let EBMUD destroy more of the Moke in your name. Speak out, there are just three public comment meetings in the next 10 days.

SUTTER CREEK: Monday, March 16 at 6:30pm
Amador Water Agency Board Room, 12800 Ridge Road

OAKLAND: Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30pm
EBMUD Administration Building, 375 Eleventh Street

WALNUT CREEK: Monday, March 23 at 6:30pm
Heather Farms Community Center, 301 N. San Carlos Drive

To learn more about the issue and the alternatives and to take action on this issue, go to http://www.friendsoftheriver.org/savethemoke.
For more information on the Mokelumne River, see http://www.foothillconservancy.org/rivers.
For more information on the Pardee expansion and an online comment form, see http://www.foothillconservancy.org/pardee/