Happy 2012

Here we are in the new year!  Can't help but wonder what the year has in store for us all here in Pine Cove this year.  Many good things I hope.

Speaking of good things, the weather is currently one of them.  It has been fabulous for this time of year.  I am feeling like I don't want winter to return.  The living is too easy when the weather is this good in late December and January.  No shoveling, no freezing temps, low heat bills and cool evenings for perfect sleeping. 

However, on the water side of things, this isn't the best scenario, so hopefully there are lots of winter storms to come so we get that snow pack that helps keep the water table up.  It is so easy to get complacent about our water supply when there is a lot of it.  While we are not in a conservation stage currently, it is very helpful if everyone continues their conservation efforts as if we were in one, because you just never know.

Drought is always looming on the horizon and we are never out of the woods, water wise.  Simply put, the less we use the more we leave in the ground for future use.  As we begin the new year, one of my goals here at the water district is to do more research and post more information about rain water harvesting.

While this sometimes seems like a daunting task and granted, it is difficult for some people to put a large water tank in their yard, saving rain water is a great way to acquire water for outdoor irrigation and certain indoor uses, such as washing cloths or flushing toilets.  We won't delve into systems that provide potable water at this time.  For now, I will focus on some basics and explore other things we can do in our yards to keep the moisture that does come, in our yards and not running down the street.

Rain water harvesting isn't only about sticking a barrel under your rain spouting.  There are other things you can do in your garden and yard to help water stick around.  By making the most of what we do get, we can decrease our need for irrigation and so we will be exploring those options as well.

More Frequently Asked Questions

OK, I know it is Wednesday, but since I had to take Monday off, I am a day late on all my postings.  So let's get back to our Frequently Asked Questions.

Q.  Are we still in a drought and in a conservation stage?

A.  We are no longer in Stage I conservation because we currently do not meet the criteria set forth by the board of directions.  It is difficult to say if we are still in a drought.  Water levels are up everywhere.  Area lakes are full and natural springs are popping up everywhere.  So it "looks" like the drought is perhaps over or at least easing up.  However, we are never out of the woods when it comes to water.  Conserving water should be a way of life for everyone because the less we use today, means the more we will have for tomorrow.

Q.  I am renting out my cabin.  Why won't you put the water bill in the renter's name?

A.  All water accounts are put in the name of the property owner.  When it comes to rentals, people move in and out and often times do not leave a forwarding address.  Some have left without paying the water bill and the property owner does not want to pay the water bill for their tenant.  That left us holding the bag.  We provided water service, but received no payment.   So, due to a few bad apples, we had to change our policy and we can now only put a water bill in the owner's name.  It is up to the owner to work out a payment agreement with the renter and decide who will pay the bill. If the owner doesn't send the bill to the renter, they are welcome to stop in and we will be happy to give them the information they need to pay the bill.

Q.  Where does our water come from anyway?

A.  Our water comes from a series of ground wells.   We are not connected to the Colorado River or any other water source.  We provide water to Pine Cove residents from Pine Cove wells.  That is why conservation is so important.  There is not an infinite supply of ground water and during times of drought when we continue to remove it without it being replenished, levels can get low.  Hence the 3 Conservation Stages.  Wells are currently rising due to all the moisture we received this past winter, so that means the aquifer is being replenished.  That is a good thing.

Q.  Why is there a $2.50 fee to pay with a credit card?

A.  In order to provide this service without incurring the costs of having a merchant account, we use a company that processes credit card purchases for us for a fee of $2.50.  Pine Cove Water District does not get a single cent of that money.  It goes directly to the credit card processor.  If we were to establish a merchant account, we would be charged a percent of each purchase as well as other fees.  We felt it was best not to take on this type of debt at this time.

Q.  Are you ever going to have automatic payments?

A.  We don't know.  At this time, our billing program is not online, which we think is very smart.  In order to have automatic payments, we would have to put it online and then worry about internet security.  As it stands now, no one can hack into our computer and steal any one's information.  We think this is a good thing!

Well I think that is enough for this week.  I know enquiring minds want to know, so we are here to answer.  If you think of any questions that I have not addressed, please feel free to drop me an email at pcwd2675@yahoo.com  and I will be happy to address them.

Announcing...

The Pine Cove Conservation Cabin!  Look for more about this in the weeks to come.  The Pine Cove Conservation Cabin will have lots of tips and reminders on how to save water both inside and out, rain water harvesting, drought tolerant plants, fire resistant plants and natives.  I will be doing a feature here once a week or so.  We especially want to get into rainwater harvesting more down the road.  This is one way to provide yourself with irrigation water at virtually no cost once the system is installed.  This will be especially helpful information for gardeners and any one wanting to water their plants and trees.  So stay tuned for more.....

Monday Musings

Well it is a good thing we got our gardening talk in last week as we are about to get some more snow and rain this week.   I knew it was too early to be spring, but it was fun to talk about gardening projects for a few days anyway.  Hopefully we will get a lot more snow and rain before winter is officially over.  While the bad weather does get tiresome, it is necessary.  Drought is a fact of life here in southern California, and the snow and rain provide us with much needed moisture to get through the dry summers.  Forecasters are sticking to their La Nina predictions,  so we really have to be grateful for whatever rain and snow we do happen to get over the next couple of months. 

Unfortunately, a few nice days or weeks right in the middle of winter, always serves to remind us what we are missing.  For some reason, once the holiday season is over, I tire of winter.  I try not to complain about the weather because it is an exercise in futility.  We can't change it, so why complain about it?  But it is human nature I suppose, to complain when Mother Nature makes being outdoors unpleasant.  So I try to tell myself, come summer, I will be glad we had this weather. 

Winter is hard work though.  Summer is so much easier.  No coats, boots, hats, gloves, scarves or umbrellas are necessary. And all of that is just to go out and clean off the car!    If you are lucky enough to have a garage or car port, count your blessings!  For those of us who have to park our cars alfresco, there is the cleaning off of the car ritual that must take place prior to actually leaving to go anywhere.  It's not like summer when you can just grab your keys and go.  Instead of looking at the snow and thinking how much work it will be to shovel it, I am trying to look at it and think that it is recharging the water wells.  That way it doesn't seem so bad. 

Well water levels are one of the many subjects discussed at our board meetings.  If you want to know what is going on drought wise with the wells,  please feel free to attend one of our monthly board meetings.  Many people aren't familiar with the water district or how or where we get the water from.  The board meetings are very informative and keep everyone up to date on what is happening here at the water district. 

You can also read the minutes from past board meetings on our website ate http://www.pcwd.org/.

Monday Musings

Monday again. How fast they seem to come around. While the weekend wasn't all that warm, it was nice to have a break from the snow and rain. This week is calling for fairly clear weather. I am personally hoping that the snow we have gets to melt off before we get more. We are off to a good start with moisture. I hope it continues through the rest of the winter. However, I am hoping that we do have a nice spring this year as I don't prefer snow in May like we had last year. Unfortunately, the weather rarely seems to take my wishes into consideration.

Once the holidays are over and we get into January, it is hard not to start to look forward to the nicer weather here on the hill and planning for the garden. We still have free bark chips that make excellent mulch if you are in need of mulch. It is an excellent way to help your trees and plants retain moisture. It also slowly decomposes, adding important nutrient rich compost to your soil and you don't have to do a thing. So stop on by and pick some up

Happy New Year!

Just a reminder that the water district office will be closed tomorrow, January 31, 2010. We will be back in the office Monday morning at 9 am as per usual. We can still be reached in case of an emergency by calling 951-294-8282.

The sun is shining today, but it is bitterly cold out and all the rain and snow from yesterday is ice today. Highway 243 is fairly clear, but there are some patches of black ice, so be extra cautious if you will be out driving. The side roads may or may not be as clear.

The weather station up at the Rocky Point tank site has registered a whopping 11.61 inches of rain for the month of December. Wow, winter is off to a wet start. I don't know what the rest of the winter will be like, but hopefully it will continue to be wet.

It is hard to imagine in weather like this, but we are still in Stage One conservation. The drought is not over, so diligence with regards to water use is still a good idea. Conserving water should be a year round habit. The more we save now, the more we will have for later. And since we never know what Mother Nature is going to hand us, it is best to err on the side of caution and keep conserving.

So this will be my last post for the year 2010. I hope you enjoy reading it and I hope you find some helpful tips or information on it. I will continue the blog in 2011 and I hope that more of our customers will let us know their thoughts and opinions. We thank you for supporting us thus far.

Don't forget to check out the Water District's Website for minutes from the board meetings, rates, billing information and the webcam. Lots of information to be had there.

We hope all of our customers and visitors here in Pine Cove have a very happy, healthy and wet 2011. Happy New Year to everyone from the staff of the Pine Cove Water District.

Jerry H., Becky, Vicki, Jerry J., Jeremy and Stitch

Monday Musings

I cannot believe this. I woke up to rain again this morning. I was very happily surprised that we were blessed with more moisture today. I do hope this trend continues, even though the powers that be are predicting a dryer than normal winter. We may not be breaking any precipiation records, but in my book, some rain is better than no rain. I do hope this pattern keeps up.

The trees are turning colors and it is really looking like fall here on the hill. Add to that the cooler, foggy weather this morning and it adds up a perfect autumn day here on the hill. Of course, the weekend was beautiful as well. It seems that everyday is a beautiful day here on the hill no matter what the weather is doing.

We still have free mulch available for those who want to get some mulch down prior to the snow flying. Just come on up and help yourself. The mulch pile is located on Marion Ridge Road right behind our workshop/garage. You can't miss it!

Monday Musings

Well, another month has gone by. What a beautiful weekend we had to end October with. Rain on Saturday then giving way to the most beautiful autumn day on Sunday. Very pleasant weather for trick or treaters to prowl around Idyllwild. With weather predictions being sunny and mild for the next few days, I am looking forward to getting out into the garden and finishing up my end of summer chores.

One thing I always try to do at this time of year is to add compost and/or manure to the garden so it can sit all winter long. I have noticed that sometimes when I add it in the spring, it is a little to potent and by letting it sit all winter, it mellows out just a little and my little seedlings love it.

With winter fast approaching, now is the perfect time to get the garden ready to go to sleep for the long winter months ahead. With predictions of a dryer than normal winter ahead, it is also the perfect time to get your trees and plants all mulched in as well. This not only protects the roots, but helps the soil to retain what ever moisture we do happen to get. We have to make the most of the moisture we do receive, so being that we have FREE mulch available, why not take advantage of the situation and do your garden a favor?

You can also mulch down your veggie garden, even though there is nothing growing in it right now. This helps prevent it from getting water logged through out the winter. The snow will gently melt down through the mulch and into the soil, rather than sitting on top of it and melting and creating mud puddles.

Remember we have FREE mulch for anyone to help themselves too and we also have bags of manure available for Pine Cove Water District customers as well. Each customer can have one bag for free. Just come in and ask for it!

Rain Water Harvesting

As the temperature rises, so does the need for water in our gardens. We could debate if we are in a drought or just returning to a normal weather pattern, but the fact is we aren't getting as much water as we would like to have. Yes, this past winter was better than some, but one never knows what the next winter will bring and therefore one good winter tends to leave us with a sense of false security.

We can also discuss water saving methods over and over again, but I think most people know what they are and I also think that most people are actually using them and trying to conserve water. However, the question remains as to what to do in the garden to further reduce water usage? You have added compost to the soil, you have added mulch to retain moisture, you are using a drip irrigation system and have even planted some native plants. But what if you want to grow vegetables or other types of plants? These take water and lots of it. What if you just want to keep your plants alive that are already there?

That leaves one in a quandry. Does one give up gardening of all sorts? Should we let everything die? Should we not try to grow our own food? Should we not plant new trees or beautiful flowers. I hope not, because what kind of a world would we have without the beauty and tranquility of gardens?

The benefits of a garden are many. Housing developments with rocks for yards and no trees for miles around are not my idea of a great way to live. I for one, cannot even begin to imagine living without the benefits of cooling shade from the trees, the privacy that shrubs and bushes provide, the fragrance and color from all the different flowers, the delicious goodness from homegrown vegetables and fruits or the peace and tranquilty provided on a quiet afternoon in a garden.

And what about the wildlife? They too are receipents of the benefits of a green and healthy garden. A garden provides them with food, shelter and protection from the elements. What happens to the wildlife that inhabits our gardens if we had to just let everything die off?

So what is the solution? Is there even a solution at all? I think so. As the drought looms over us year after year, ready to eliminate our ability to maintain our gardens at any moment, we have got to plan ahead and find solutions to provide water for ourselves and our gardens. So what is the solution? Well, I personally think it is rain water harvesting and this is what I will be working towards at my home. When you think about the amount of water just running off our roofs and how it could provide a sustainable source of irrigation water during the summer, why not try to capture it?

One of the many obstacles to this is, of course, the cost. But luckily, there are many ways to do this and I think that it needs to be incorporated more and more into our overall water conservation plans. Yes we have to be good stewards and conserve as much as possible, but why not add rain water harvesting to our bag of tricks?

I have read lots of articles that recommend adding a rain barrel to your downspout to water your garden with, but since the average rain barrel can only hold about 50 to 75 gallons of water, this isn't going to sustain you throughout a long, hot and dry summer. Plus during a rain storm or when snow is melting, it won't be long until it is overflowing. Most people are going to need something larger.

The key is to add as many rain water storage tanks as possible or put in one of those large ones that hold several thousand gallons. If you are opposed to the look of that or don't have the room to put one, here is a nifty solution.

http://www.aquascapeinc.com/why_rainwater_harvesting

While this is pricer than using 55 gallon drums and creating a daisy chain, it is much more attractive and since it is underground, it obviously doesn't take up a lot of room in your yard. I never knew this option existed and for some, it could be the perfect answer. For those of us on smaller budgets, I recommend looking for used 55 gallon drums and you can connect them together with PVC pipe. This is a good way to start capturing rain water, even while on a small budget.

You can do a search on the internet as well and it will reveal many clever ways people across the country and the world are using to capture rain water. Ingenuity is very prevalent in some of these homemade systems and we can get a lot of inspiration and ideas from them.

The whole point is to start saving that rain water and snow in the winter. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all save rainwater and eliminate using our tap water for outside irrigation? Rainwater is so much better for plants and trees since it doesn't contain any chlorine or other chemcials. Think about it. Perhaps rainwater harvesting could be an important tool in our water conserving arsenol.

Sustainable Thursday

Well spring has finally sprung. I think. As we sit at the beginning of the summer season, it is a good time to think about what we can do to be more sustainable. This time of year is so wonderful. After the long, cold winter we just want to fling open our doors and windows and get outside. For many that means the start of the gardening season.

Spring and fall are the best time to plant trees. Try to avoid planting them in the middle of the hot, summer months when their water needs will be high. If you can't get your trees planted withing the next month or two, it might be more beneficial to wait until fall. Trees are an excellent way to help naturally cool your house during the summer months. If you plant deciduous trees, you will then allow the sun into your house in the winter time as well.

Removing excess paving. As we all know, cement really holds the heat. The more of it you have around your house, the more heat that will be retained. Convert pavement to plants. Remember the driveways with two narrow strips of pavement? All that unpaved area between the strips would allow water to soak into the ground, preventing runoff and adding to the cooling of the air. Plants are better than pavement Wherever possible, minimize or even remove pavement, and instead plant the area with low-water-using, low-maintenance plants. Or try the two narrow strips type of driveway if you feel you can go without pavement.

Remember to check your outside irrigation system for leaks. All water that passes through your meter is your responsibility.

Spring here for good?

This weekend provided residents of Pine Cove with some spring like weather. The sun was shining and although it wasn't all that warm, it was better than it has been. It feels good to fling open the windows and doors and let that fresh air and sunshine in. Now is a good time to check and see how your irrigation system, outside faucets and hoses faired over the long winter. Check for leaks and repair them immediately. Once the summer gets here, you want your outdoor watering to be as efficient as possible.

It is easy to get complacent when it comes to water use after such a long, seemingly wet winter. But remember, we are not out of the water woods yet. One wet winter does not a drought eliminate. If we are to continue to have an adequate supply of clean water, we must be ever vigilant and always conserve when possible. Being ever mindful of our water situation and conserving when possible, reduces the possibility that we will have to go into a Stage 2 or 3 conservation effort. We are currently in Stage 1 and we hope everyone will continue to conserve and be good stewards of the water supply that we have. We here at the PCWD appreciate everyone's efforts to conserve water and only use what is necessary. If everyone does their part, then we will all have plenty of wonderful water for all our needs.

Remember we have water saving kits available for FREE at the water district office. Just come in and ask for yours. We also have FREE wood chips to use as mulch in your garden. Mulch helps keeps the moisture in the soil and slowly decomposes and adds valuable nutrients to your garden soil. Stop by anytime and pick up as much as you need. The pile is located behind the workshop on Marion Ridge Rd.

Snow again?

Well folks, just when you thought it was safe to get out your gardening tools, guess what? Yep, that's right. Last night brought us a foot of fresh powder. While this little surprise that Mother Nature sent to us seems like cruel and unusual punishment, try to look on the bright side. It is more moisture for our beloved hill! This is a very good thing. As you look out your window and your poor plants and trees bent over from the snow load just think about all that wonderful moisture percolating down into the water table and hopefully that will help you to get through this latest bought with Old Man Winter.

I know, I know, I am anxious to get working out in the garden as well, but after living here for 15 years now, I have learned to control my urge to plant until at least Mother's Day. I try to console myself by looking at seed and plant catalogs and gardens online, all the while plotting and planning what I am going to do to mine once the weather breaks. On the bright side, this type of weather prevents me from going out to the nursery and spending a lot of money. So in some ways it is a good thing.

Keep up the good work conserving water and remember that we still have our rebate program going on. Remember to stop by for your free bluebird house as well. If your coming up the hill, the roads are pretty clear, but please check on chain requirements prior to leaving.

Sustainable Thursday

This week while searching for an interesting topic to discuss, I came across something I had never heard of before. Keyhole gardens. While they are used a lot in Africa, I had never heard of them before. Their design is very simple and uses permaculture methods and would be very beneficial to gardeners everywhere. Their unique design makes them a combination of a raised bed garden and a compost pile all in one structure. They are extremely efficient and can be custom built to an individuals specific needs. By building the garden about 3 feet high, they are easy for people who may be older, disabled or have back problems to care for. In fact, that is one of the reasons they use them in Africa. Since so many are chronically ill there, these gardens make it possible for them to grow food for themselves and their families.

After doing some research this week, I have found you can make them from a variety of materials and in any size you desire. As the name implies, they are shaped like a keyhole. They are round with a small, angled path on one end. The compost section is right in the middle and the path makes it easy to walk up to the compost pile and add to it. If you don't prefer to have a compost pile in the middle of your keyhole garden, you could have a tree, a water feature or a rain barrel there instead.

Keyhole gardens can be as simple or elaborate as you want. Some are made from stone and others just from wire fencing. You could use bricks, landscape stones, river rocks, fencing or whatever strikes your fancy. You can use recycled materials or have it made to match your home. Let you imagination run wild.

There are many benefits of these types of gardens. It is an excellent way to grow a lot of vegetables in a small space. There is a wonderful article on permaculture and keyhole gardens at www.gardeningknowhow. com/organic/the-essence-of-permaculture-gardening.htm. Also if you do a search on Google for keyhole gardens, you will be able to find a wealth of pictures of keyhole gardens which will give you many ideas on how you too can build one in your own yard. There are many other wonderful articles online as well. This is a topic well worth researching.

Since they retain water better than a traditional garden, this makes them ideal for here on the hill. If you are wanting to do some gardening this summer, I would suggest giving a keyhole garden a try. If you do, send us pictures and let us know how it turns out. We love to hear of everyone's gardening adventures.

Free Wood Chips!

We have free woodchips available to anyone who would like to have some. Just come on up and help yourself. They are located behind the water district's workshop. You may come anytime to pick them up. They are great around plants and trees to help with water retention.

Water Saving Kits

Please don't forget to stop by and pick up your free water saving kit. They are free of charge to all Pine Cove Water District customers. Just stop by the office, located at 24917 Marion Ridge Rd during normal business hours and pick one up.

Stage I-what do you think?

Our General Manager, Jerry Holldber, feels that we should stay in Stage I water conservation, which is voluntary compliance. However, some people question why, with all the rain and snow we have been having, don't we just drop out of Stage I. We would like to find out just how you, our customers, feel about this.

To refresh your memory, in Stage I we ask for voluntary compliance. Customers are asked to conserve, when possible, the amount of water that is used for necessary domestic and business purposes. We ask that they fix leaky plumbing, prevent irrigation runoff, refrain from washing down sidewalks, driveways and parking areas. Avoid sprinkling unplanted areas for dust control. We encourage our customers to utilize wood chips, which we are giving away FREE, and mulch around all plants and trees to minimize outside watering.

Water rates remain the same as when we are not in any stage alert up until the 4th tier which is 18,000 to 24,000 gallons. In that tier the rates go from $5.50 per thousand gallons to $6.00 per thousand gallons. Tier 5 is 24,000 gallons to 30,000 gallons and rises from $7.00 per thousand gallons to $9.50 per thousand gallons. The last tier is over 30,000 gallons and that price jumps from $8.00 per thousand gallons to $14.00 per thousand gallons.

The vast majority of our customers use less than 18,000 gallons per billing period. The three highest rates affect only about 2% of our customers. 98% of our customers are not financially penalized in any way by the water district being in Stage I Water Conservation.

Being in Stage I also brings awareness to our customers of the need to conserve. By law, being in Stage I also gives us the right to offer rebates on things like low flow toilets. If we drop out of Stage I, then a Public Hearing must be held if we need to go back into Stage I in the future.

Staying in Stage I does not mean we are out of water or are going to be running out soon. It makes people aware of the need to be careful with our water so that we have all we need, now and in the future. It does not create any hardships for the majority of our customers and the water district is not making money off of it. Just the opposite in fact. The more people conserve, the less revenue the water district takes in.

But even though it affects our bottom line, we still feel that conserving water now and in the future, is the responsible thing for us to be helping our customers do. We care about Pine Cove, the environment and our customers. Conserving now assures us of a good water supply in the future. By conserving, being aware of our water situation, staying vigilant, and looking at alternative water sources such as rain water harvesting, we would hope to put off having to go to the more drastic stages of Mandatory Compliance in a Stage II situation or worse, Stage III, which is Mandatory Emergency Restrictions. Waiting until things are getting desperate to move into a Conservation Stage is not good water management.

We feel that we are doing what is right for the district and for our customers by staying in Stage I for now. What do you think? We want to hear from YOU!! Please leave a message here on the blog or email us at Jerry@pcwd.org. Call Becky or Vicki at 951-659-2675. Write us a letter and mail it to PO Box 2296, Idyllwild CA 92549 or drop it off at the office, located at 24917 Marion Ridge Rd. Tell us what you think and why. Are you concerned with the future of Pine Cove, our earth, the environment? Do you think conservation efforts are worth while? Do you think you have an adequate water supply for your needs? We will be waiting to hear your thoughts.

Holiday Weekend

The first holiday of the summer is almost upon us and here on the hill, that means cookouts, yard sales and lots of visitors. However, it is very important to remember that we are still in a drought. As we all look forward to lots of fun and relaxation, we would like to remind everyone to please remember to turn off your water when you leave your mountain home, even though it is summer. This is the most important thing that you can do to help in a drought situation. Turn your water off at your customer valve upon leaving. If you need help locating your customer valve, please call the office at 951-659-2675 during normal business hours.

Also, if you haven't done so already, please fill out your Application for Water Service and return it to the District office. We would like to finish updating our records and it is important that we have current information on file for every customer. If you need an application, please contact Becky during normal business hours by phone or email, info@pcwd.org. We are located at 24971 Martion Ridge Road, next to the Pine Cove Fire STation #23. Feel free to stop by. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend.