Marsha Smith

The past few weeks California Water service has been diligently working to complete the installation of an underground water transmission line (six-inch pipeline) in the Old State Road area of Wofford Heights. The projects purpose is to connect 87 customers in the area to the Cal-Water Kernville System that was completed several years ago. The Kernville system uses river water versus well water. The Ponderosa Pines area and the Mountain Shadow systems were interconnected in 2006 and to connect to the Kernville system this final leg of the project is required. The work area is situated on the National Forest Systems lands beginning at the Sequoia National Forest boundary northwest of Highway 155 and Old State Road and ending at the Forest boundary and Old State Road. Live Oak campground is separated into a north and south campground by Old State Road.

The current water source supply for Ponderosa Pines and Mountain Shadow areas is inadequate to meet the needs of the communities. The four wells supplying the areas have deteriorated and are losing their ability to keep up with the demand placed on them, according to Chris Whitley, manager of our local California Water Service Company.

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In January of 2008 work began to tie the system into the Kernville system, but by February of 2008 work came to a halt. During the time the crew was saw cutting the asphalt along Old State from Pinehurst to 155, they requested the Forest Service provide them with locations of water lines, etc., that might be in the line of their upcoming trenches. At that time, Cal Water learned the proposed route for the new water line would pass through a documented archeological site. Cal Water was told by the Acting Forest Archeologist that the site is more complex than was originally indicated to Cal-Water.

Sixteen months later the final permit to continue the project was issued. It wasn’t an easy permit to obtain. The Plan of Action came under either review or some type of direction from many entities from an Environmental Assessment to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and just about everything in between or related.

The project is still two or three weeks away from completion and has run over the estimated time of completion due to the amount of rock in the path that has to be blasted just to dig a trench 24 inches wide and 30 inches deep; one has to wonder how an area that has to be blasted could have ever served as a burial ground, but in all fairness maybe other artifacts could be found in the area. Regardless, a Certified Archeologist must be on site during the digging in sensitive areas and a Native American observer must be on site during all digging. Young stated that they have approximately 750 feet to go to reach the destination at Hwy 155 to tie into the Kernville System. They have now passed the sensitive archeological site area but they are still having to blast rock and the Native American observer is still on site.

As a resident of the area who travels Old State Road daily, I give kudos to the contractor, Valley Excavation, and his crew for the excellent job they are doing in keeping traffic delays to a minimum and taking precaution to avoid damage to the trees that boarder so close to the edge of Old State Road. Jim Young, owner of Valley Excavating said, “The residents of the Old State Rd area have been very supportive and understanding and we appreciate their patience with the inconvenience of delays.” The longest delays have been not more than 15 minutes and for those who just cannot wait, there is always the Tillie Creek road, although it is only a one-lane road with lots of blind curves so most avoid using it.

Residents are taking the delays and inconvenience in stride knowing it is necessary. Lynn McCloskey said, “I usually just leave earlier so I am through before they start and don’t come home until after they have stopped for the day.” Residents who live on Pinehurst have probably taken the worst of it. Joanie Cashwheeler stated that the dust and traffic from the trucks retrieving asphalt piled at the end of her street and the pipeline installed down her street has been a little troublesome, and the early morning start time insures she will be an early riser hasn’t been fun either, but she also understands the importance of the project. Most residents, including myself are taking it in stride. Being able to flush toilets and take showers without interruption just somehow makes any inconvenience more tolerable.