EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING - SERENE LAKES STYLE

Last May Royal Gorge LLC proposed draining Serene Lakes 4 feet or so to help water their proposed development. Locals were aghast that Kirk Syme, and Todd, Mark (and T. Jack?) Foster would even think of proposing such drastic damage to the beauty of Serene Lakes.

Royal Gorge LLC, however, has always looked on our little natural lakes as more of a reservoir, to be tapped at will, than as lakes that people love for their calm, unassuming beauty. Royal Gorge LLC, and their representative, Mike Livak, have often implied that since our lakes have a dam, they're not "real lakes."  Lake Tahoe also has a dam, and is a major water supply for downstream users, but nobody questions whether it is a "real" lake. Big, or little, a lake is a lake--and many people love Serene Lakes because they are small, friendly lakes-lakes that you're not afraid to let your children learn to canoe or sail on, lakes that are quiet, and removed from the hubub of motor boats and jet skis. 

This last Friday night the Sierra Lakes County Water District (SLCWD) board unanimously passed a resolution aimed at limiting drawdown of the lakes to no more than 3 feet. This resolution codifies the historical practice of SLCWD, as the lakes have never been drawn down more than about 2.8 feet. Royal Gorge LLC, however, has protested this proposed action for more than two months. They've made the ridiculous assertion that SLCWD should go through an EIR process to assess possible environmental damage caused by limiting drawdown. Hello? As SLCWD's resolution merely codifies the status quo, Royal Gorge LLC's argument sounds like a petulant attempt to make SLCWD spend our tax dollars to defend the obvious and the rational.

It gets worse, though. As of Friday's board meeting, Royal Gorge LLC's lawyer was still claiming that SLCWD couldn't consider environmental, recreational, and aesthetic concerns involved in maintaining a reasonable water level in our lakes. Apparently, to Royal Gorge LLC, the notion of Public Trust, and preserving the environmental and recreational aspects of our lakes is subservient to their rights to build their ski lift-less "Ski Camp", and their suburban sprawl across the still natural Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort.  Who needs to preserve water in some small lakes when there's the possibility of making truckloads of money? Of course it's Royal Gorge LLC and their investors who stand to make all the money, and Serene Lakes residents who will be looking at dead little lakes, but hey -- where are your priorities?

My prediction? Expect to hear a lot more on this topic from Royal Gorge LLC, and their fleets of lawyers.  Expect to see time, and money wasted -- our tax dollars that could be used for more productive purposes by SLCWD.  And if Royal Gorge LLC prevails, and gets to siphon the water out of our Serene Lakes?

For the (tarnished) silver lining, please see the new Serene Lakes Trail Map.