Frazier Park, CA (Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 at 6 a.m.)—Members of the Frazier Park Public Utilities Board were generous last night in the time they spent listening to concerns and suggestions from the community in regard to the diminishing Frazier Mountain Park pond and what that may mean about the aquifer.
FPPUD consultant Dee Jaspar, a civil engineer, said springs are fed by mountain front recharge (shallowly submerged surface water flowing downhill to emerge to the surface in springs). He said the drying springs reflect the persistent drought even while water basin groundwater levels remain strong.
Jaspar explained the basis for his projections that the middle and eastern portions of the Cuddy Creek water basin storage are still healthy. FPPUD General Manager Jonnie Allison showed the results of soundings that indicate strong performance by FPPUD wells that pump from the groundwater basin.
The board was reminded by newspaper reports from 1994 that the pond dwindled dramatically during another long drought. Some at the meeting said they fear that selling water to Lake of the Woods from FPPUD’s Well 5 (south of the pond, or downstream) may be leading to loss of pond water. In a nod of respect, the board agreed to a one-month experiment in which they will sell no water to LOW (which can purchase water from Lebec County Water District instead during that time).
The one-month experiment will be inconsequential if a rainstorm recharges the dry springs during the month, they observed.
A representative from Supervisor David Couch’s office will meet with Friends of Frazier Mountain Park at the pond at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29. All who are concerned about the pond and would like to help are welcome to meet there at that time. The meeting will then move to Caveman Cavey’s cave for discussion.
There was also discussion of a volunteer community effort to clean and dredge the pond while it is drained, then lining the bottom to prevent water loss. Research is needed to learn whether federal or state regulations involving the Department of Fish and Wildlife and/or EPA may be brought into play by such a plan, the group agreed.—Patric Hedlund, TME
This is part of the August 26, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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