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 WAS NEEDED AND THAT EFFORT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. THREE CREWS FROM CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION (CDF) VALLECITO CONSERVATION CAMP ARE WORKING ON CONTAINMENT THROUGH THE USE OF PLASTIC AND SANDBAGS HEAVY EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN ORDERED TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR.

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 AND IS STILL IN EFFECT. A REPORT FROM THE CHIEF ENGINEER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES ON THE STATUS OF THE REPAIR AND UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE DAM IS EXPECTED LATER THIS AFTERNOON. A SECOND LOWER POND HAS EROSION PROBLEMS WHICH ARE ALSO BEING ADDRESSED. 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.

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/RESTRICTIONS:

• GROUSE DRIVE, PINE TREE COURT, AND PEACHTREE COURT ARE RESTRICTED TO RESIDENTS ONLY

• DIAMOND XX HAS THREE ROAD CLOSURES:

         CONISTOGA TRAIL

         SOUTH HORSESHOE WAY

         CANTEL

COSGROVE CREEK HAS OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS CAUSING FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY SPRINGS AREA. SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL ARE ON STANDBY.

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

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

-End-