On Water

By Otis Wollan

Water security is our greatest challenge. PCWA must address the reliability and security of our Bear River water delivery.

Alternative and backup systems need to be developed for this Bear River water supply. The Bear Canal is a legacy of the mining era, and winds precipitously on canyon walls to deliver water to our county. It will take a sustained program over many years to make this canal truly reliable and secure. In the meantime, we need more options for using different sources. We need to be ready for the next emergency, which will surely come.

The last Bear Canal failure happened in June, and that year rains continued until July so the damage was relatively small. We may not be as lucky the next time, so we need to be ready. During the twenty years I served on the PCWA Board, our priority was securing our American River water supply, securing the next 50-year license for the Middle Fork Project with its new revenue stream.

There is a list of issues every candidate for PCWA Director needs to support. In many ways, this list is the pre-requisite for the job. Take a look and see if any candidate is different, and find out why:

• continue PCWA's good management and solid financial condition
• stabilize water rates at current levels
• keep water quality high
• protect our water rights
• ensure system reliability
• maintain the power and water systems for all generations
• make sure development pays its own way, and growth does not *occur on the shoulders of ratepayers
• bring treated water to neighborhoods that are still unserved in Placer County
• promote water conservation and efficient use
• support Placer County's policy of sustaining agriculture in our area
• collaborate with all water utilities in Placer to support water and power development throughout District 5, including Tahoe, Soda Springs, and Foresthill areas.

Today, the picture has changed where in addition to the principles above, the priority has to be leadership that will deliver on water security and fire safety. This can be achieved through careful stewardship of the Middle Fork Power revenues, which belong to all the people of Placer County, not special interests. Serving my community in this way has been my passion throughout my life here, as I raised my family and worked tirelessly to build a better community. This remains my commitment to you.