[pct-l] weather . . .

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@sprynet.com)]

We've felt the drought acutely in Agua Dulce.  The closest imported water terminates in Acton.  In Agua Dulce, we're all on wells, and are completely rain-water and local snow dependent. We get no supply from Sierra snows, or imported river water.  The majority of our little valley, the Sierra Pelona, sits directly over an aquifer.  While the outskirts of town historically had to go deep for water, and would sometimes run out, there is abundant water in the lower areas, with artesian wells, ponds, and some streams that stay at least trickling all year.  

But not this past year.  Many, many in our town were just flat out of water.  Wells that had once produced good quantities were way down in production.  Ponds were nearly dried up, evidence of the dwindling water below.  We personally have always had water trucked in during the hiking season; just too much demand for our well.  But this year we had to have water trucked in long past the hiking season for the first time since we moved here in '96.  I understand a major legal dispute is in the works over water rights and usage in one neighborhood.

To complicate matters even further, a new manager in the Health Department of the County of LA has enforced a rule that stipulates that no one can get a permit to build a new residence unless they can prove that their well can produce something like 3 gallons per minute for 72 hours.  To run the test, they actually pump the water out on the ground, unused (which is a disgusting waste and further depletes the aquifer).  If they fail the test, no building permit.  They won't allow you to build a new residence if you have less water or have to have water trucked in.  This essentially condemns properties where people have purchased land intending to build their dream homes, and now cannot do anything with the land (nor sell it for what they paid before all of this came down).  People have literally lost their investments and their dreams.  No other county in the state has this restriction.  Agua Dulce has a special zoning standard that limits the population density, to limit demand on ground water and to keep our area rural.  Some who live here believe that the County is trying to force us to pay for imported water and sewer infrastructure (assessed through our property taxes), which would be so costly we would have to increase our population density to defer the cost, thus breaking our local zoning standards that limit growth.  This would signal the death knell of our rural area.  We've filled the local high school auditorium with irate residents complaining to the County Board of Supervisors.  They in turn have sponsored a study of what it would cost to bring in infrastructure, rather than employing the same provisions available elsewhere in the state.  Go figure.

It is truly my hope that this rainy season replenishes our local supply.  Living with a well here in the high desert has given me a whole new appreciation for water, and an entirely different view of those who live below who water their lavish lawns until the water is running down the street -- water that comes from the Colorado and Feather Rivers, far away.  I'm glad for every drop that falls from the sky.  

-=Donna Saufley=-

-----Original Message-----
From: JOHN F PATTERSON <yuppatt@sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Jan 8, 2005 9:29 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] weather . . .

Today ' s NYTimes : ( Front page - under , " Inside " , listings : " Water , Water Everywhere " , page A10 )
    " The heavy rains that have persisted across much of the west have provided some much needed relief from the five year drought . . . "  
     What say you - all who live there and KNOW what ' s what ? 
     I haven ' t read all back-country mail offerings but haven ' t seen much about the drought being thus , " Busted " .
     A Connecticut , Yankee " , used to no end of water this is surprising to me - seems THE subject after I walked from Mex border to Echo Lake last summer and heard so much about the ' six ' year drought and saw and heard about results of such : Reno fire ; Bridal Vale area fire , MANY fires , carrying at all times [ after starting with three quarts and ending up needing water from others - Frank, Cat and Christina ( Thank you again . . . ) at Hauser Canyon ] six quarts ; reduced water levels at natural water sites , and much highlighting of these conditions : in Julian the owner of the grocery / market said more then 700 homes had been lost to fires in the area due to the drought . . . emphasis and ' fear ' of " illegal " aliens taking one 's water . . . " Cottonmouth " , getting a trail name as five , " Illegals " , woke him at Hauser Canyon at 3 AM and took all his water . 
     Talk to me . Rafter Jack




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