IS IT TIME TO SING "AULD LANG SYNE" FOR SERENA CREEK ON DONNER SUMMIT?

The plans and documents Royal Gorge LLC submitted in secret to Placer County last November were available for public view for the first time today, and early reports indicate that Royal Gorge LLC's plans look pretty dire for poor little Serena Creek.

Serena Creek is the outflow for the two Serene Lakes, natural lakes which had a dam put in many years ago to provide water to the small surrounding community. Water flowing over the dam has been enough to sustain Serena Creek, which although it flows underground in sections during the dry part of the year, is considered a perennial class one trout stream.  And not just any class one trout stream, but one that feeds the headwaters of the Wild and Scenic North Fork of the American River.

It was feared that Royal Gorge LLC would want to tinker with the dam on the Serene Lakes, and that is indeed proposed- although instead of 'fessing up to wanting to raise the dam, Royal Gorge floats the idea of "lake level management" which probably entails a dam which goes up and down. When the dam is raised, private property will be flooded, perhaps for many months.  If the dam gizmo gets frozen, or stuck- multiply the flood risk out a whole bunch. The water that would have flowed into Serena Creek will be siphoned up to fill an 85 acre-foot artificial impound at "Lake Camp".

Here's where Royal Gorge LLC adds grave injury to insult, and proposes something that will ultimately spell the end of Serena Creek.  They are also hoping to build an additional dam on Serena Creek, downstream, adjacent to their planned "Putting the Wilderness on Edge" camp, in order to suck that water up pipes to their impound lake also. 

Now anyone who uses newspapers for anything other than lining their parakeet's cage has probably noticed that fish are having a very bad year (decade...century) in California.  The Delta pumps are repeatedly stilled to protect the Smelt from extirpation, and fisheries around the state are perhaps teetering on collapse.  So isn't this a great proposal from Royal Gorge LLC, self styled "conservationists"- to take all of the water from a stream that supports trout, and flows to a wild and scenic river? It's almost if they're saying, "what's the big deal with a few hundred or so dead fish, when you can buy some at the market anyways?"  Seriously, on what planet is the word "conservation" equated with killing things- Planet Profit?

Well, just a few nights ago people were singing "Auld Lang Syne" right after midnight rolled around- a lovely song that celebrates old memories, and also signals it will soon be time for "lights-out."  If Royal Gorge LLC has its way, it  definitely will be "lights-out"  for  Serena Creek, and all the creatures who live therein.