IN AN EFFORT TO RETURN PEOPLE WHO WERE REQUIRED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES UNDER A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER ON TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 2006, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, A PRIVATE ENGINEERING FIRM, AND A CONTRACTOR WORKING FOR THE LA CONTENTA GOLF COURSE WILL BE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO COMPLETE REPAIRS TO THE PEACHTREE POND DAM .

THE EVACUATION STATUS IS BEING REVIEWED AND UPDATED EVERY FOUR HOURS AS REPORTS ON THE REPAIRS AND INTEGRITY OF THE DAM ARE RECEIVED FROM THE ENGINEERS. EROSION PROBLEMS ON A SECOND LOWER POND 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 TWO ROAD CLOSURES: CONISTOGA TRAIL AND SOUTH HORSESHOE WAY

COSGROVE CREEK HAS CAUSED 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.

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