Higher Pardee Dam will not ruin whitewater rafting, consultant says

A consultant for the East Bay Municipal Utility District said the district's proposal to build a new Pardee Dam that would be 33 feet higher than the present dam will not restrict summer whitewater rafting on the Mokelumne River in Amador and Calaveras counties.

David Blau told about 30 people at a public meeting to discuss EBMUD's long-range plans in Lodi on Monday afternoon that water from the higher Pardee Dam would also be released during rainy winters with the potential of letting it percolate into the parched groundwater basin in eastern San Joaquin County.

Additionally, representatives from San Joaquin County and the Stockton East Water District gave their enthusiastic support for how water storage can help San Joaquin County collect more water and reduce the amount of saltwater intrusion from the brackish Delta.

Opponents of the project, however, claim that the new dam and the resulting higher water levels would flood the region's existing recreation areas.

The project would destroy miles of river habitat along with cultural, historical and recreational resources, Acampo resident Alan MacIsaac told EBMUD representatives. A higher Pardee appears to have greater opposition in Calaveras and Amador counties, where residents fear it would destroy the pristine Middle Bar recreation area. Middle Bar has a picnic area, new parking lot and a historic bridge crossing the Mokelumne River.

But local water agency representatives are delighted with the prospects that a 33-foot-higher Pardee Dam offers for San Joaquin County.

"Our groundwater basin is in a state of critical overdraft," said Mel Lytle, the county's water services manager.

Accepting comments on Pardee proposal

A draft environmental impact report on the East Bay Municipal Utility District's water supply plans through the year 2040 is available for public review at the Lodi Public Library, 212 W. Pine St., the Stockton-San Joaquin Library, 2370 E. Main St., and at libraries in other locations. It is also available online at www.ebmud.com/water_&_environment/water_supply/water_supply_management_program/CEQA/default.htm.

Two more workshops on the project are scheduled — from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the EBMUD office, 375 11th St., Oakland, and at the same time on Monday at the Heather Farms Community Center, 301 N. San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek.

Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. April 6 by writing to the EBMUD Water Supply Improvements Division, 375 11th St., MS 104, Oakland, CA 94607 or send an e-mail to tfrancis@ebmud.com.

The final EIR is expected to be completed by May 8, and the EBMUD board will consider certifying it on June 23.

Source: East Bay Municipal Utility District

Lytle added that the Pardee proposal is an example of cooperation by EBMUD and water agencies from San Joaquin, Calaveras and Amador counties through the Mokelumne River Forum, which has met the past seven years.

Lockeford resident Richard Baines also endorsed the project.

"It's the greatest bang for the buck," Baines said. "We need more water."

Mike Tognolini, EBMUD's manager of water supply improvements, said it will take 10 to 15 years for district officials to determine the feasibility of the project.

"We don't have a detailed project for Pardee," Tognolini said.

More detailed studies and mitigation would be needed before EBMUD builds a bigger Pardee Dam, said Blau, an environmental planner and landscape architect for EDAW, a design firm. And it could be 2025 before EBMUD decides what to do, he said.

The EIR addresses global climate change. Experts indicate that Northern California could have more drought years and possibly have a scenario of more rain, less snow and earlier snow runoff, Blau said.

EBMUD supplies water from the Mokelumne River to customers in parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Rational Solutions wrote on Mar 18, 2009 6:04 PM:

" Unfortunately, the consultant hired by EBMUD is not candidly telling the truth. He is being paid by EBMUD to "whitewash" this issue. In reality, the only reason that EBMUD would spend millions of dollars building a new dam to raise the reservoir level 33 feet - is to flood the Mokelumne River canyon to a point upstream of the Highway 49 bridge. Once the reservoir floods the canyon, all the trees die, leaving an ugly bathtub ring when the reservoir is not full - thus ruining the beauty of the canyon. A better solution is to start conserving NOW and to dredge the large amount of silt which is taking space in the reservoirs on the Mokelumne River. The declining ground water problem in the San Joaquin Valley is caused by farmers overpumping the ground water because it has been inexpensive to do so. As energy costs go up, farmers will be forced to use less wasteful watering systems. As one of the speakers so eloquently said, we need to start thinking about our grandchildren instead of destroying our resources for "things we think we need." The only long-term solution is conservation! "

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tms wrote on Mar 18, 2009 10:22 AM:

" I am not an environmentalist but I am a capitalist. The Mokelumne river is in Amador and Calaveras County... of course the residents would be upset to ruin a "cash crop" of tourism for them. Only to give more water to an entirely different population... that needs to fill their swimming pools. On that note the residents of Calaveras and Amador counties pay much more for their water than EBMUD customers. How would Lodi residents feel if all of the wineries were leveled...as that is one of the main reasons people come to visit Lodi and spend their money. In fact most people fishing on the Middle Bar section of the Mokelumne are from Lodi. Please take your ignorant "kayucker and eco-whackos" comments and try, just try to place yourselves in the place of Calaveras and Amador county residents. Scientifically there are much better options to provide water than build a dam on a completetly silted resovoir.... that you can't even swim in. "

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gray cloud wrote on Mar 17, 2009 5:04 PM:

" Another case where a few enviro-wakkkos and some Kayuckers are trying to destroy the water systems that millions depend on. You Kayuck nuts want your white water, but millions more need water. Do you have a suggestion ? I dont see any of you doing rain dances. I propose we cut off the water to all enviro-wakkos and kayuckers. that would save a few gallons. "

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dogs4you wrote on Mar 17, 2009 10:14 AM:

" If the dam gets built, hopefully it will be built with two lanes rather than that stupid one lane road at the present time. Before the stop lights were installed and you met another car coming from the other direction, it was kinda like a Mexican stand off. Other than the dam, the overflow will have to be increased , it`s quite a sight to see the overflow in action. The Pardee area is beautiful and home to more deer than you can count, sad to see it go but then that`s progress and we do need the water. "

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Mad Dog wrote on Mar 17, 2009 9:26 AM:

" When the "Eco-whackos" find out that the whitewater rafting argument wont work, they will suddenly "discover" a spotted owl or tiger salamander in the area and that will stop all of the planning and work. "

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