(Left) Peter Kampa, General Manager Lake Don Pedro Community Services District answers a question from the public during a Drought Emergency meeting held on March 9, 2015 at the Don Pedro High School in Mariposa County.
Mr. Kampa said Winter was a flop and the amount of snow and rain that feed Lake McClure was dismal at best. He said Lake McClure being below minimum pool is at less than 10% of capacity and no one should be taking water out of it. The elevation of the water surface is about 60 feet above the floor of the reservoir.
Mr. Kampa estimates by about October the water for the pumps to the community will be depleted. Primarily the water that will have been released out of the dam is because of mandatory downstream releases.
Getting to deeper water in Lake McClure would require about 21,000 feet of pipe and could take years to build.
The Lake Don Pedro Community Services District is putting in ground water wells even though they are not real reliable in that region of the county because of the fractured rock.
They have drilled eight test wells, some to a 1,000 feet, and two of them had adequate water production. Those two are now going to be tested for quality and long term quantity. Then they will install pumps in the wells and they will be operational by June or July. The two wells are just supplemental wells.
The district currently has a $2 Million dollar project with a total of three additional wells with a commitment of $1 Million from grants. They are going to apply for another $1 Million grant and it that comes through they will drill another set of wells that will then come close the meeting the communities water demand after October.
They are looking at a deep water system out of Lake McClure.
The community has 1,451 metered connections and about the same amount of vacant parcels waiting to be built out.
Mr. Kampa said these were unplanned projects and the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Board has been forthcoming with any available money but most of the money from the state was used up last year. The community is listed as one of the highest priorities in the state because they have a date certain when they will not have enough water supply.
Water restrictions in the community are at a mandatory 50% reduction also there is a ban on outside watering. All leaks have to be repaired in seven days and if not fixed the water is shut off. Fines are only charged after a water restrictor has been installed and the customer wants it removed, the charge is for the removal of the restrictor.
Mr. Kampa reassures the community they do not have to sell their homes and they will have water for the communities horses.
Mother Lode Views also focused on the latest efforts of other local water districts to conserve water. Guests included T.U.D. General Manager Tom Scesa, T.U.D. Spokesperson Lisa Westbrook along with Lake Don Pedro Community Services District General Manager Pete Kampa.
To listen to the full audio of the discussion: Mother Lode Views
