ENGINEERS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND THE U.S. ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS ARE ONSITE EVALUATING THE EROSION OF THE DAM WALLS OF PEACH TREE POND. THEY FOUND THAT IMMEDIATE REMEDIATION OF THE UPPER POND IS NEEDED TO AVOID FAILURE. CREWS FROM CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION (CDF) ARE WORKING ON CONTAINMENT THROUGH THE USE OF PLASTIC AND SANDBAGS

A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE CALAVERAS COUNTY SHERIFFS’ OFFICE AT 11:00 P.M APRIL 4, 2006. AFTER EROSION OF THE DAM AT PEACH TREE POND WAS DISCOVERED. A SECOND LOWER POND ALSO HAS EROSION PROBLEMS. PEACHTREE POND, LOCATED IN THE LA CONTENTA AREA OF VALLEY SPRINGS, IS APPROXIMATELY THREE ACRES IN SIZE AND 12 FEET DEEP. APPROXIMATELY 60 - 100 HOMES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED:

• PEACHTREE COURT

• PINE VALLEY COURT

• BLUE HERON COURT

• LA CONTENTA DRIVE FROM BLUE HERON COURT TO VISTA DEL LAGO DRIVE

• VISTA DEL LAGO DRIVE

• GROUSE DRIVE

• TOYON COURT

• HUCKLEBERRY LANE FROM VISTA DEL LAGO TO ANTONOVICH ROAD

AN EMERGENCY SHELTER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY CALAVERAS WORKS AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AT THE VETERANS HALL AT 198 PINE STREET, VALLEY SPRINGS, 209-772-9650. A SECOND SITE IN VALLEY SPRINGS IS BEING ESTABLISHED.

RESIDENTS NEEDING SANDBAGS MAY PICK THEM UP AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

• THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SAN ANDREAS

• THE PUBLIC WORKS YARD AT MILTON ROAD AND BALDWIN STREET IN JENNY LIND.

• FOOTHILL FIRE STATION ON HIGHWAY 12 IN VALLEY SPRINGS.

ROAD CLOSURES:

• PETTINGER ROAD, CLOSED

• CHILE CAMP ROAD FLOODED BUT PASSABLE WITH CAUTION

• DIAMOND XX HAS THREE ROAD CLOSURES

COSGROVE CREEK HAS OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS CAUSING FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY SPRINGS AREA. SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL ARE ASSISTING THE CALAVERAS COUNTY SHERIFFS’ DEPARTMENT WITH EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS.

WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO BE CLEAR TODAY AND TEAMS ARE EVALUATING HOLDING PONDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FOR POTENTIAL EROSION PROBLEMS.

SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED ABOVE ARNOLD DUE TO OVERNIGHT SNOWFALL.

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHILE TRAVELING WITHIN THE COUNTY.

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