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from the Foothill Conservancy

Help save the Mokelumne: Stop the Pardee Reservoir Expansion

September 26, 2009 -- We’re making steady progress in the East Bay in our effort to save the Mokelumne River. But we need to hold strong here in the foothills. Can you help by acting in Amador County this week?

Come to the planning Party (Beer and Pizza served)  Thursday, October 1, 6 pm. at the Amador Senior Center or attend the supervisor meeting, Amador County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, September 29, 9 am
 
Come to the Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting at 810 Court St and urge the supervisors to stand strong on the Pardee Reservoir expansion (“New Pardee” Dam).
 
Please urge the supervisors to stand strong with local residents, organizations and cities by    1) Opposing New Pardee Dam    or     2) If they believe they must support some version of New Pardee to keep regional water discussions alive, supporting only Option 1.
 
Last spring, the supervisors took a strong position against the proposed expansion as well as “construction of another reservoir that would have similar negative impacts.” They will review a follow-up letter on Tuesday.
 
In August, EBMUD published five options for New Pardee, Options 1 through 5. Only Option 1, the shortest new dam, preserves the Middle Bar Bridge and the river upstream. But the supervisors’ draft letter could be read as supporting Option 2 as well as Option 1. 
 
Option 2 would create a reservoir with an elevation at the road deck of the Middle Bar Bridge. It would require removal of the historic bridge and flood another mile of the Mokelumne upstream of the existing reservoir, destroying historical, cultural, environmental, and recreational resources. It’s clearly a project with “similar negative impacts” of the sort the supervisors opposed in May.
 
The only solutions that protect the Mokelumne’s Middle Bar and Electra reaches and local resources are no New Pardee or Option 1.
 
Planning Party for EBMUD hearing, Thursday, October 1, 6 pm
 
East Bay MUD will make a final decision on its 2040 water plan, including the Pardee expansion, on Tuesday, October 13 in Oakland.  We need a good turnout in Oakland to show the EBMUD board we’re standing strong for the Mokelumne.
 
We need to make plans for the day. We need help arranging for transportation, logistics, signs, hats, speakers – you name it.
 
Come to a planning party, complete with pizza and beverages, on Thursday, October 1 at Amador Senior Services at 6 pm.
 
Please let Randy know if you can come: randy@foothillconservancy.org