WASTE NOT, WANT NOT ON DONNER SUMMIT? HAS ROYAL GORGE LLC READ THE RULES ABOUT WATER?

Article X, Section 2 of the California Constitution, which concerns water rights,  mandates against the waste of water, and also requires reasonableness of use, method of use, and method of diversion of water.

As you may recall, Royal Gorge LLC has some state permitted rights for water they divert from a spring above Rainbow Lodge that should flow to the South Yuba River, were it not interrupted by their diversion. These rights are post-1914, which means Royal Gorge LLC is dependent upon a state water rights permit to justify their use of that water, which beyond supplying Rainbow Lodge, has encompassed bulk sales to bottling companies, and now, apparently, involves selling the water to Granite Construction Company to  haul off in trucks to wet down dust produced by road work on Hwy 80.  

Is it reasonable to use potable water to dampen dust? Well, if recycled water will fit the bill, that's a very relevant question.  After processing, Donner Summit Public Utility District's (DSPUD) water is deemed suitable for snow making--- I've not ascertained whether there are controlling rules for use on wetting down highways--there may be differing state water quality standards governing the two uses. But just maybe, might not recycled water do a pretty good job on the dust, saving the drinking water for folks who need to drink it?

The waste issue is pretty clear.  Big Bend homeowners, who hope, and, perhaps need to join DSPUD for sewer and water considerations, have a genuine lack of potable water.  They're long-time cabin owners in Rainbow Lodge's neighborhood-- wouldn't you expect Royal Gorge LLC,  (or whatever their LLC is for that particular piece of real estate they're holding) to do the right thing and offer them a contract for water coming off of the spring they control, in the spirit of fairness, or niceness, or good karma?

Good karma aside, Rainbow Lodge's state water rights permits, for whatever they're worth, don't allow for waste of water.  In my mind, a reasonable person would come to a very quick conclusion that if your neighbors, with cabins around the South Yuba River, the same South Yuba River you're diverting spring water from, need water to cook, and shower, and flush toilets, well, your selling water to wet down freeways  might be just a teensy bit wasteful.  No, maybe completely wasteful, as in what thought crossed your collective minds (or consciences) when you signed off on that deal? I guess you're not worried, as someone would have to raise the issue with the state water rights board, which means of course that they'd have to hire as many lawyers/law firms as you have ( I'm beginning to think would-be developers are a full employment act for certain varieties of law firms.)  But, in case you're not getting the gist of this-- Royal Gorge LLC selling water to wet down dust on freeways when neighboring cabins need drinkable, potable, bathing your children in tubs water, is the poster child for Waste Waste Waste.  

Last Friday was an interesting day, in terms of the rumor mill not grinding slowly, as mills are reputed to do (oh, other mill-- sorry), but spilling out rumors as fast as that salt cellar in the children's fairy tale that was dropped in the sea, churning out salt without cease, thus explaining why the seas are salt.  Here, if you believed half of what you heard, perhaps Royal Gorge LLC had just been purchased by Estonia as an Olympic Cross Country Ski Training facility (google that in about 3 days...)

Here are the solid facts I've gleaned from the rumors.  Rainbow Lodge, according to Royal Gorge's cross country page is closed for the entire summer. Rainbow Lodge is still on the market, according to Loopnet, for $5.8 million.  The offering now includes, according to Loopnet's most recent listing, the ongoing bulk water sales business--  something that was apparently not offered a few months ago.  Query, how will Royal Gorge LLC pipe all that water up to their developments at Donner Summit if they've sold the water rights off?  And "goodwill hunting"? You don't need to go to some high end business school to glom on to the fact it's hard to sell a hotel that hasn't had guests for an entire season, do you?  But we've heard all along that Foster and Syme weren't hoteliers-- or at least that's what Mike Livak said in some article or another. Still, it's a real shame to think of all those Rainbow Lodge employees who are suddenly out of work-- this economy's hard as nails, and you hate to think of anyone losing their job.

Ice Lakes Lodge, contrary to rumor, does not seem to be closed/for sale.  It's closed for the shoulder season, and may be back as vibrant as it ever was. Please, if you know different, let me know. 

Royal Gorge LLC is selling equipment that is used on the cross country ski resort. Whether that equipment is limited to obsolete or cranky items, or encompasses new and spiffy items I can't say, as I haven't had a preview.  One hopes fervently that Royal Gorge LLC is remaining focused on the viability of one of the best cross country ski resorts in the country, as opposed to the furthering of the development they're bringing before Placer County.

Gossip-- Waste-- two themes.  Gossip is a waste of time, and I'm hoping those hotels, and the ski resort are doing fine, as they're local assets.  Waste-- it's a crying shame to use drinkable water for construction purposes.  I hope whoever made that decision at Royal Gorge LLC takes a hard look in the mirror, and if they don't have any qualms about that decision to sell water for Highway 89 as opposed to contracting with historic cabin owners, well, I hope they find someone at Royal Gorge LLC who "gets it."  Sooner rather than later.