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Volume 171 • Issue 15 | 75¢
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Friday, February 4, 2022
Appeals court backs pipeline EIR Michael Raffety Mountain Democrat correspondent The 3rd District Court of Appeals last week backed the Upper Main Ditch pipeline environmental impact report. The Jan. 28 decision rejected and debunked all arguments posed by the Save the El Dorado Canal group. The appellant court did not review the El Dorado County Superior Court decision in favor of the El Dorado Irrigation District’s EIR. Instead, the appeals court conducted a de novo hearing, considering only the arguments advanced in the appeal filed by Save the Canal. EID had studied all alternatives, including no project and piping the entire ditch. The alternative chosen was to use 400 feet of district-owned property beginning at the Forebay Reservoir valve house, then continuing along 8,200 feet of Blair Road, thence 1,500 in the Main Ditch, then 2,200 feet cross-country over private property until it reaches Reservoir 1 Water Treatment Plant. The total is 12,300 feet of 42-inch line. The pipeline is done, leaving the project 95% completed. Save the Canal sought to overturn the Superior Court decision denying the group’s writ of mandate against EID. Save the Canal contended in its appeal to the higher court that EID failed to provide an adequate project description because (1) it omits “a crucial fact about the ditch the district proposes to ‘abandon,’” i.e., “the Main Ditch system is the only drainage system” for the watershed; and (2) the EIR failed to adequately analyze the impacts of abandonment to hydrology, biological resources and risk associated with wildfires, the appeals court summarizes. Immediately following that summary the 3rd District Court of Appeals writes, “We affirm. As we explain, respondents did not abuse their discretion in approving the Blair Road alternative. The draft n
See appeal denied, page A8
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
John and Janine D’Agostini tell the story of how D’Agostini Ranch became an evacuation site as the Caldor Fire threatened thousands of El Dorado County homes this past summer. The D’Agostini family’s efforts were recognized at the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce’s awards and installation dinner with the Community Service of the Year Award.
Chamber celebrates community
Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
“W
ith division, you get less. With addition, you get more.” The new El Dorado County 2022 Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors President Adam Anderson, owner of WealthGuard Advisors Inc., stressed the importance of these words during his speech at the chamber’s 97th awards and installation dinner held at the Cameron Park Country Club Jan. 27. Speaking to a crowd of business, community and government leaders, Anderson encouraged everyone to reflect on how each individual in attendance
contributes to the county. “I don’t think you’ll have to think about that for too long because this room is filled with heroes,” Anderson told the crowd. “Some of us play big parts and some of us play little parts but we all weave together into a fabric of our community that is a beautiful tapestry.” As two-term past president Gordon Helm passed the gavel of leadership to Anderson, he looked back to 2020 — what seemed would be a promising year with a 50-year low unemployment rate, a high stock market and thriving small businesses, he recalled. All of that was thrown to the wayside when the n
See Chamber, page A9
Dry January wipes out surplus snowpack Mountain Democrat staff PHILLIPS STATION — A survey of the Sierra Nevada snowpack Tuesday found the state’s frozen water supply to be 92% of PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
average. About one month ago statewide snowpack was averaged at 160% following the heft of December storms. A dry January saw much of that boost melt away. At Phillips Station, about 3 miles west of Echo Summit, Department of Water Resources staff ’s Feb. 1 manual survey recorded 48.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 19 inches, which is 109% of average for that location. Jan. 3 measurements showed the snowpack was 202% of average at Phillips Station. “We are definitely still in a drought. A completely dry January shows how quickly surpluses can disappear,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth.
“The variability of California weather proves that nothing is guaranteed and further emphasizes the need to conserve and continue preparing for a possible third dry year.” With little to no accumulation of snow during January, snowpack levels are closer to average Feb. 1 conditions, meaning that a return of winter storms in the Sierra Nevada is needed during February and March to remain at or above normal levels, according to DWR officials. The Southern Sierra snowpack is not faring as well as the Northern Sierra. Water supply forecasts for the south San Joaquin Valley are below average due to a lack of rain and snow. “These dry January
California Department of Water Resources photo by Kelly M. Grow
Sparse snow accumulations remain on the slopes above Tuesday’s snow survey site near Echo Summit where the Caldor Fire burned last summer. conditions demonstrate the importance of continuing to improve our forecasting abilities and why these snow surveys are
essential,” said Sean de Guzman, manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “While we always
hope for a generous snowpack, DWR’s ongoing investments in forecasting techniques n See snow survey, page A7
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