Fire and Water - 2009

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Published in partnership with

Placer County Water Agency

Supplement to the

and

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There is no substitute forwater.

Water is in our air, in our foodand in our land. We drink it,bathe in it and even use itssoothing sounds to find innerpeace.

Water makes up about 60percent of our bodies and morethan 70 percent of the earthssurface. Water helped createlife, and clean water sustains it.

All of the water we have is all

that well ever get, so itbehooves us to use it wisely andsave every drop possible indoors, outdoors and in theworkplace.

According to the U.S. Envi-ronmental Protection Agency, Americans' landscape irriga-tion use is estimated to accountfor roughly 7 billion gallons ofwater each day.

Irrigation experts estimatethat up to 50 percent of waterused for landscape irrigationmay be lost due to over-water-ing, evaporation, or bad irriga-tion system design and mainte-nance. The EPA estimates thatthe amount of water wasted isequivalent to letting a family offour run the shower continu-ously for almost one week.

The Irrigation Associationhas named July "Smart Irriga-tion Month." The organiza-tion's goal is to raise awarenessfor the importance of waterconservation. According to theassociation, most homeownersare unaware of their inefficientwater use and what they can doto use less.

Here are some helpful tips to

conserve water, both inside andoutside your home:

IN THE HOME Run your dishwasher and

washing machine only whenyou have a full load.

Fix toilet leaks. To determineif your toilet is leaking, add foodcoloring to the tank water andlet it sit 15 minutes. If the colorappears in the bowl, there is a

leak. Turn off the faucet whilebrushing your teeth. Faucetscan flow at two to three gallonsper minute.

Replace older toilets (thosebuilt prior to 1992) with newhigh-efficiency models. Thenew HET toilets use less thanhalf as much water as oldermodels.

Install new efficient shower-

heads and faucet aerators. Make your next washingmachine and dryer water andenergy savers. Look for theEnergyStar logo. You can cut

your water and energy usage inhalf with these models.

~ Tips courtesy Placer County

Water Agency

IN THE YARD1. Sweep your sidewalks and

driveway rather than hosingthem down.

2. Install a drip irrigation sys-tem around your shrubs, flowerand vegetable gardens. Dripirrigation systems use about 70percent less water than con-

ventional sprinklers; they deliv-er water slowly and directly tothe plants root system.

3. Install a rain sensor. Suchsensors interrupt the wateringprogram when a specificamount of rain has fallen.

4. Use your irrigation timer.New technology makes it easierthan ever to program and mon-itor your watering needs. Con-

sider upgrading your timer automatic, programmabletimers save more water thanmechanical models.

5. Layer mulch around your

plants. Mulching helps to retainmoisture and prevents evapora-tion. A generous amount of 3inches to 5 inches is best.

6. Dont fertilize during hot,dry weather. Applying fertilizercan actually enhance droughtproblems. And when you dofeed your lawn and garden usea slow release fertilizer.

7. Raise the blade on yourlawn mower. Closely croppedgrass requires more water.

8. Recycle your grass clip-pings back into your lawn by

using a mulching mower. Youllnot only conserve water, youllsave time while mowing.

9. Using plants that are nativeto your climate require lesswatering, and can reduce out-door water use by 20 percent to50 percent.

10. If you use a hose andportable sprinkler, purchase ahose end timer to regulate your

water use.

~ Tips courtesy U.S. Environmen-

tal Protection Agency

10 FIRE & WATER June 2009

Water conservation: Making every drop count

FILE/BEN FURTADO GOLD COUNTRY NEWS SERVICE

Kim Wright, owner of Avantgarden in Downtown Auburn,waters a flourishing bamboo plant.

WATER-WISE HOUSE CALLSDid you know the Placer County Water Agency offers Water-

Wise House Calls? A trained technician will come to your home,business, apartment house or mobile home park and check forleaks and give you customized water-use tips, outdoor irrigationcheck-ups and provide watering schedules. To schedule anappointment call PCWA Customer Services at (530) 823-4850 or800-464.0030.

During the call a technician will: Evaluate the efficiency of the irrigation system. Provide an irrigation watering schedule. Identify irrigation leaks, broken or mismatched sprinkler

heads, high pressure and other common problems. Provide water efficiency program materials and water-wise

landscaping tips. Check the toilets for leaks and replace toilet flapper valves, if

needed, and requested. Install water-efficient shower heads and faucet aerators if

needed and requested.

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Pacific Gas and ElectricCompany is working toprevent tree-caused pow-er outages in the Sierra.

This year, in addition toroutine vegetation man-agement work, PG&Ebegan specialized workon trees that pose a safety

and reliability hazardalong high-voltage, over-head power lines inselected areas of the Sier-ras and throughout itsservice area. The reliabil-ity program uses histori-cal data to develop a tar-geted outage reductionstrategy in areas that haveexperienced multiple

occurrences of tree-caused outages.

When trees or limbs fallinto lines, electricity is cutoff until the debris isremoved and damage isrepaired. By taking actionand pruning branchesabove high voltage lines,

PG&E hopes to reducepower outages and thepotential for fires.

With customers beingour number one priority,this proactive approachhas the potential to

reduce tree-caused out-ages by more then 50 per-cent over the next five years within our entireservice area, said NelsenMoney, supervising man-ager of PG&Es vegetation

management program inthe companys Sierra divi-sion.

PG&E operates nearly113,000 miles of distribu-tion lines and nearly19,000 miles of transmis-

sion lines throughoutnorthern and central Cal-

ifornia.These high-voltage

power lines are patrolledannually and approxi-mately 1.5 million treesare worked each year toprevent them from grow-ing or falling into powerlines.

PG&E uses directionalpruning methods to keep

trees from growing intopower lines.

Directional pruningallows trees to grow awayfrom power lines and ispromoted by the interna-tional society of arboristsand the NationalArborists Association.

June 2009 FIRE & WATER 11

Falling trees wreak havoc on power supply


PG&E workers Bill Smith, at left, and Steve Hakker labor to restore power inMeadow Vista in the wake of a fierce wind and rainstorm in January 2008 thatknocked out electricity to 40,000 customers in Placer County.

PG&E programhopes to reduce

downed lines

PREPARING FOR POWER OUTAGES Have battery-operated flashlights and radios with fresh batteries ready. Listen

for updates on storm conditions and power outages. If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work (such as a cord-

less phone or answering machine), plan for alternate communication have a stan-dard telephone handset, cellular telephone or pager ready as a back up.

Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can beplaced in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling.

DURING AN OUTAGE

When the power is out, unplug or turn off all electric appliances to avoid over-loading circuits and fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp

on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a timewhen conditions return to normal. If you have a standby generator, make sure that it's installed safely and inform

PG&E to avoid risking damage to your property and endangering PG&E line workerswho may be working on nearby power lines.

Avoid the risk of fire by not using candles. If you must use candles, keep themaway from drapes, lampshades and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.

REPORT A POWER OUTAGE: 1-800-743-5002

Before calling PG&E about a power outage, check to see if other neighbors areaffected. This would confirm if an outage has occurred in just your residence orwithin the neighborhood area.

If only your residence is without power, check circuit breakers and/or fuse boxesto see if the problem is limited to the home electric system.

After performing the steps above, single or neighborhood outages can bereported to: PG&E's 24-Hour Emergency and Customer Service Line: 1-800-743-5002

Once your outage has been reported, you can call PG&E's Outage InformationLine at 1-800-743-5002 to get a status report on your outage and the anticipatedtime your power will be turned back on.

If you lose power overnight, you can call PG&E to request a wake-up call. We'll

be happy to give you a wake-up call, as well as up-to-date information on your out-age and time of restoration.

PG&E phone lines may become very busy during major storms, so be patientwhen you are trying to reach someone.

SAFETY TIPS

FOR TREES:

Never attempt toprune trees near powerlines yourself. Only lineclearance qualified per-sonnel should work with-in 10 feet of high-volt-age power lines.

Do not allow chil-dren to climb trees grow-ing near power lines.Never build tree housesin trees growing nearpower lines.

Plant the right treein the right place. Makesure the mature treeheight is at least 10 feetaway from power lines.No trees should be plant-ed within 10 feet of a

power pole.

If you believe that atree poses a danger to ahigh-voltage power line(those lines near the topof the pole), please call1.800.PGE.5000 toarrange an inspection.

For more informationabout PG&Es vegetationmanagement programand to learn more aboutplanting the right tree inthe right place, pleasevisit pge.com/trees.

~ PG&E

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Summer 2009

looking to bedrier, hotter

Heavy fuels burn at the American River Complex blaze July 8, 2008.FILE/BEN FURTADO GOLD COUNTRY MEDIA

Residents need to takesteps to protect theirhomes, property

BRAD HARRISCAL FIRE UNIT CHIEF

Nearly one millionacres of land burned lastsummer in Northern Cal-ifornia and summer 2009is, once again, shaping upto be a challenging onefor both the residents andfirefighters in PlacerCounty.

We are in the third yearof a severe drought andthe trend for the past sev-eral years has been hotterand drier conditions andhigher levels of fire dangerthroughout the state.

It is more importantthan ever for the residentsof Placer County to followa few simple steps to

increase the survivabilityof their homes well inadvance.

Over the years wevelearned the two mostcommon ways that build-ings are lost during wild-land fires are from directheat and flames, or fromburning embers that canblow up to a mile ahead of

the fire.This knowledge has ledto a two-prongedapproach: Heat andflames must be kept awayfrom buildings and the

ability of embers to ignitebuildings must be elimi-nated.

California law requiresthat homeowners clear

flammable vegetation within 100 feet aroundbuildings to create defen-sible space for firefightersto safely protect theirhomes. Ongoing educa-tion and inspection areconducted to enforcethose requirements.

The second componentis to construct buildings

that resist burningembers. Buildings catchfire when burning embersfall on wood roofs, blowinto the building throughvents, pile up in cracks, orlodge under boards.

Ignition-resistant con-struction creates an"envelope" around thestructure to decrease the

number of burningembers that can enter thebuilding. By building thestructure in a way thatdiminishes ember intru-sion, the main cause ofhome loss during wild-land-urban interface firescan be reduced or eveneliminated.

For more information

about living safely in Cali-fornias wildland-urbaninterface, visit the Cal FireWeb site at fire.ca.gov.

Brad Harris is the CAL FIRE Neva-

da-Yuba-Placer Unit Chief.

Fire & WaterWe should all be grate-

ful we live in one of the

most beautiful areas ofthe world, framed by theSierra foothills and theSacramento Valley.

Rugged and resilient,the area is yet fragile tothe changing climate andthe threat of wildfire. Asweve seen in past sum-mers, wildland fire candirectly threaten local

structures and lives or, asin the case of last yearsfires, pollute our air forweeks at a time.

Thanks to sound watermanagement by the

Placer County Water Agency, residents herehavent faced the sametype of conservationmeasures that have hit

homeowners and busi-nesses to the south. Butthe veil of droughtremains.

Its with appreciationand respect for our local

land and water that weproduce this section.

Thanks to the support ofPCWA, CAL FIRE andother agencies, this sec-tion provides essentialinformation on keepingsafe and hydrated thissummer and fall, whenthe threat of fire and water shortage are attheir greatest.

For example, youll

learn: How to properlydefend your propertyfrom the threat of fireusing defensible spacepractices.

Proper safety tech-niques to use on local

lakes and rivers. Ways to save waterinside and outside yourhome.

You might not knowenough about the statewater situation.

So enjoy this copy ofFire & Water and shareit with your family,friends and neighbors.

And if you do prepare your home against firethreat or water waste, getto it now, before the mer-cury climbs any higher.

Thanks for reading.

Use this guide and enjoy a safer summer

TonyHazarianGoldCountryMedia

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Is your property a fire waiting to happen?BY SCOTT SERENBETZBUSHWACKERS, INC.

You may think the worstthing about your overgrownproperty is that its simply anugly mess.

But did you know that thesame conditions that make itunattractive also make it a firehazard? All it takes is one sparkto ignite a patch of brush or pileof dried leaves, and the result-ing damage to your land or

worse, to your home can bedevastating.

Unfortunately, many peopleprocrastinate in eliminatingtheir fire risks, even as we moveinto prime fire season. As if therisk of fire isnt enough, thereare a couple of other reasonswhy you shouldnt put it off.

First, creating and maintain-

ing 100 feet minimum ofdefensible space around allhomes and structures is the law.

Second, insurance companieswont insure your home if theyconsider your property too big

of a fire hazard.Once youve set out to tackle

hazardous vegetation, carefullyevaluate the risk of doing the work yourself before youassume its a good idea.

Finally, implement an annualmaintenance routine to keepyour property safe. Every year,revisit the things that make

your property a fire hazard andaddress those that need atten-tion. Remember, theres abonus in making your propertyfire safe its bound to lookbetter and be more usable, too!

Scott Serenbetz is the president of

Bushwachers, Inc. Land Clearing Ser-

vices.


Battalion Chief Keith Drone of the Foresthill Fire ProtectionDistrict surveys a home in Foresthill for defensible space.

FIVE TIPS TO DEFEND YOUR HOME Remove dead shrubs, dried grass, fallen branches and dried

leaves 100 feet around your house. Trim and separate plants and shrubs to stop fire from spread-ing. Remove ladder fuels plants, shrubs and low branches that leta fire on the ground climb into the trees. Clear five feet around the base of the house and fill the spacewith fire resistant plants or materials such as rocks or gravel. Take care of the clean, open space around your home on a reg-ular basis.

~ U.S. Forest Service

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Keep fireworks out of

Fourth of July celebrations

Fire agencies in Western Placer CountyBEFORE A FIRE:

Create defensiblespace to separate your

home from flammablevegetation and materials(minimum 100 feet)

Adhere to all local fireand building codes and weed abatement ordi-nances.

Store importantpapers in a fireproof con-tainer.

Make evacuation

plans with family.

DURING AWILDLAND FIRE:

Turn on a batteryoperated radio to get lat-est emergency informa-tion.

If you have a ladder,prop it against the house

so you and firefightershave access to roof. If hoses and adequate

water are available setthem up. Fill buckets with

water. Remove combustible

materials from the area

surrounding your house(lawnchairs, tables, etc.)

Turn a light on in eachroom for visibility in caseof smoke.

Open or take downflammable drapes andcurtains

Close all venetianblinds and non flamma-ble window coverings.

Move upholstered fur-niture away from win-dows and sliding glassdoors.

Be ready to evacuateall family members andpets when requested todo so.

Turn off air condition-ing/air circulation sys-tems.

Detach electricalgarage doors. Back in yourcar and leave the keys inthe ignition.

Secure your pets if

possible.

AFTER AWILDLAND FIRE: Check with fire offi-

cials before attempting toreturn to your home.

Use caution when re-entering a burned area flare-ups can occur.

Check grounds for hotspots smoldering stumpsand vegetation. Use your

buckets of water. Check the roof andexterior areas for sparksand embers.

Check the attic andthroughout the house forhidden burning sparksand embers.

Continue to check forproblem areas for severaldays.

Contact 911 if anydanger is perceived. If burning outside

your home was extensive,watch for soil erosion.

FILE/BEN FURTADO GOLD COUNTRY MEDIA

Fireworks are banned in unincorporated Placer County, even if they were pur-chased in cities that allow Safe and Sane fireworks.

Fireworks of all sizes and types arebanned in unincorporated areas of Plac-er County because of the fire risks theycreate.

The only exception is displaysapproved by county officials and put onby pyrotechnic companies licensed bythe California State Fire Marshal.

As a result of the ban, fireworks are notsold at roadside stands in unincorporat-ed areas of Placer County.

The ban also makes it illegal to dis-charge fireworks in unincorporatedareas even if they were purchased legal-ly at roadside stands in local cities or

other jurisdictions throughout theregion that allow fireworks.

Some cities within Placer Countyallow Safe and Sane fireworks. City res-idents should check with city offices tofind out whether fireworks are permittedand what the rules are.

Placer Countys ban on fireworksapplies to unincorporated communitiessuch as Alta, Applegate, Dutch Flat,Foresthill, Granite Bay, Meadow Vista,Newcastle, Penryn and Sheridan.

To apply for a fireworks display per-mit, visit placer.ca.gov/FormsAppsPermits/FireworksInfo.aspx.

CALFIRE (California Department ofForestry and Fire Protection)(530) 889-0111

United States Forest Service (USFS)Tahoe National Forest AmericanRiver Ranger District(530) 367-2224

Alta Volunteer Fire Department(530) 389-2676

Auburn City Fire Department(530) 823-4211

Colfax City Volunteer Fire Depart-

ment(530) 346-6776

Foresthill Fire Protection District(530) 367-2465

Lincoln City fire Department(916) 645-4040

Loomis Fire Protection District(916) 652-6858

Newcastle Fire Protection District(916) 663-3323

Penryn Fire Protection District(916) 663-3389

Placer Hills Fire Protection District(530) 878-0405

Rocklin City Fire Department(916) 625-5300

Rocklin Fire Protection District(916) 625-5300

Roseville City Fire Department(916) 774-5800

South Placer Fire Protection District(916) 791-7059

Fire information lines:CAL FIREWeb: fire.ca.govInfo line: (530) 823-4083

Placer County Office of EmergencyServicesWeb: placer.ca.gov/emergencyInfo line: (530) 886-5310 (only acti-vated during emergency)

US Forest ServiceWeb: inciweb.org

Tahoe National ForestInfo line: (530) 367-2224

Fire: What to do

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Good waterflows from clean,healthy watershedT

he Placer County WaterAgency works incollaboration with other

organizations to promotehealthy forests on the lands thatprovide our water supplies.

As stewards of PlacerCountys water resources, weare most aware that a high-quality water supply dependsupon a high quality watershed.

Water to PCWA customersflows from the Yuba-Bear river

watershed and from theAmerican River watershed.

Yuba-Bear water is delivered tothe agency under contract withthe Pacific Gas and ElectricCompany. PCWA holds

extensive water rights on theMiddle Fork of the AmericanRiver.

Fire can be a major threat toour watersheds and the qualityof our public water supplies.Fire often leads to soildisruption, erosion and siltationthat can cloud clear mountain

water.

Lessons of the Star FireThe impacts of devastating

fire were brought home inAugust and September of 2001

when the Star Fire charredmore than 16,000 acres aroundPCWA Middle Fork Projectlands in the Tahoe andEldorado national forests.

It was an eerie scene on thatearly September Saturday whenmembers of the PCWA boardand staff drove through thesmoke-filled forest to the StarFire command post at FrenchMeadows Reservoir. There we

were briefed by U.S. ForestService firefighters.

Our Forest Service colleaguesexplained not only their tacticsfor controlling the fire but alsotheir plans to limit long-term

By Dav i d A.BreningerGener a l ManagerPlacer CountyW at er Agenc y

ecologicaldamage tothe

watershed. Asair tankersandhelicoptersdropped fireretardant,Forest Servicespecialists onthe ground

were already fanning out intothe woods, inspecting burnedareas and making streamrestoration plans.

Following the fire, damagesfrom fire suppression activities

were repaired, areas around

creeks and streams werecontoured and mulched and insome cases planted with native

vegetation. Many burned anddead trees were removed.Owners of burned privateproperty in the area, workingunder Cal-Fire guidelines, alsomoved forward to restore

watershed health.The Star Fire came at a

time when many of us inthe water industry were

beginning to take a moreactive interest in thequality of our watershedlands. At PCWA, welearned important lessonsabout good watershedmanagement.

Foothill water systemsAs many homes in the

Placer County foothillsare vulnerable to wildfire,

so is the PCWA watersupply system. Many ofthe canals that carry

water from themountains originated inthe Gold Rush era andsome flumes are still builtand supported with

wood. Some canals are locatedin remote, heavily-wooded andovergrown canyons.

In cooperation with rurallandowners, our field crews seekto preserve access formaintenance and to limit firedanger around these importantcanal systems.

Healthy waters and moreClean, productive watersheds

will promote higher qualitywater supplies for the citizens ofPlacer County. They will alsobenefit sustainable forestry,agriculture, habitat protection,cultural and historic resourceprotection, open space

preservation and outdoorrecreation.Good watershed management

is a key part of providing ahealthy, sustainable watersupply that can be put toreasonable and beneficial usesby the people of PlacerCounty. This is a legacy for usto pass on to future generations.

Steps to

Understand landscapi

Landscape the Sierra WThe Sierra Nevada Alliance

has published an illustrated160-page book titled Sierra

Nevada Yard & Garden: AHomeowners Guide toLandscaping in the SierraNevada.

The guide places emphasis onwater efficiency and fire safetyas it offers information onclimate, soils, plants, yard and

garden design, irrigation anmuch more for Sierracommunities. It should b

every gardeners bookshelf.For a copy, contact:Sierra Nevada Alliance2489 Lake Tahoe Blvd.South Lake Tahoe, CA 961530.542.4546www.sierranevadaalliance.o

With proper research andplanning you can create a fire-safe landscape without usingexcessive amounts of water.

Water efficiency and fire safetycan go hand in hand.

The Sierra Nevada Alliance

has assembled detailedinformation on howhomeowners can enjoybeautiful, fire-safe landscapes.

Observe the flammablematerials on your property and

consider needs for defensiblespace around your home thawould interrupt a fires path,protect buildings and allowfirefighter access.

Consider vegetationmodifications to take advantof low growing, fire resistantplants with high moisturecontent but low in oil contenAvoid plants that tend toaccumulate excessive dead

wood.

The high intensity of the StarF ire in 2001 injured the MiddleFork watershed.


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eing water wiser

ng, water and fire

y

Plant righttrees, shrubs

Be aware of thewater all around us

Water efficiency:

PCWA has answers

10 ways tocut fire risk

Stay intouch

Here is a sampling of vegetation you may wishto consider for your Sierra Foothills landscape.

TreesCrape MyrtleTrident MapleCrabappleVarious OakVarious Pine

ShrubsBush AnemoneWestern Redbud

d

on

58

g

age

t.

Sage speciesShrubby CinquefoilToyon

Groundcovers

BearberryCreeping MahoniaEvergreen CurrentRockroseRosemary

The alliance recommends the use of a zonedapproach for fire safety around yourhome. The zoned approach for our foothillarea includes a Lean and Green Zone of upto 30 feet immediately surrounding the home,a My Sierra Zone that extends another 30feet to 100 feet to a transition zone of 100 feetand beyond.

From the creeks andravines to the raging watersof the American River,

water weaves itselfthroughout the Sierrafoothills. Each source mustbe treated with care andrespect for both qualityand quantity.

The canals that windthrough commercial areasand close to residentialneighborhoods carryessential supplies of waterthroughout the region.During winter and spring,rainstorms can rise intoswift-moving streams.

Water levels of the forks ofthe American River can

change throughout the day,depending on the release ofwater upstream.

Use caution around water.Dont take any water level,swimming hole or currentfor granted. Respect the

water around us, and it willreturn the favor.

The AmericanRiver, above, an degional canalsm o v e w a t e reffic ientlyhroughout theegion.

P.O. Box 6570, 144 Ferguson RoadAuburn, CA 95604/530.823.4580

www.pcwa.net

PCWA offers a range of customer services and helpful literature aspart of its Water Efficiency Program.

Services range from customer rebates for installation of efficientfixtures and appliances to Water Wise house calls. Many helpful tipsfor saving water around the house and yard are offered.

For helpful information, see www.pcwa.net. Go to the CustomerService section and click on the Water Efficiency tab.

Audra Davison ofhe PCWA WaterEffic iency staffadjus ts anrr igat ioncontrol ler dur inga Water Wisehouse ca l l .

The Sierra Nevada Alliancerecommends these fire riskreduction measures by removing: Dry or dead vegetation Dead branches of trees Tree branches (alive or dead)

within six feet of roof Tree branches within 15 feet ofa chimney or stovepipe Vegetation in proximity to

power lines Woodpiles to within aminimum of 30 feet of structures

during fire season Woodpiles that could rolldownhill toward structures Flammable decoration, outdoorfurniture or hardware - to aminimum of 30 feet of structuresfrom June through mid-September Flammable materials frombeneath deck or porch structures

Flammable shrubs such asjuniper, arbor vitae and mugopine

Map

courtesyofSierraNevadaAlliance

PCWA Update is the bimonthlynewsletter produced by the PlacerCounty Water Agency to keep customers

and interested citizens up-to-date on theagencys programs and activities.

The newsletter is distributed with waterbills and is also posted on the PCWA

website at www.pcwa.net.


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Do you know what to do if a skier falls in the water?Follow these tips tohave fun and be safe

in local rivers, lakesThe Sierra foothills are

blessed with wonderful hikingtrails, vibrant plant and animallife and lots of water in ravines,streams, rivers and lakes.

With so much water around,its critical that safety measuresbe understood and practiced.Placid lakes and cold, swift-

running streams can provedeadly in a matter of seconds.If you plan on cooling off in

the American River or takingthe boat out on nearby lakes,wear a life jacket at all times.And if youre near whitewater,make sure the device fits snug-ly and offers the flotation need-ed to swim safely in swiftwaters.

Whitewater rivers containhazards that are not always eas-ily recognized, says American Whitewater, an organizationdevoted to conservation, recre-ation and stewardship of thenations rivers.

For example, high water inthe early summer usuallyincreases the rivers speed andpower. Higher water can becolder as well, and cold waterwill drain your energy and yourdecision-making abilities.

Items in the water, such asbrush, fallen trees and bridgepilings are called strainers,and can pin boats and boaters.

When water drops over anobstacle or rock it curls back onitself, forming a strongupstream current, which maybe capable of holding a boat orswimmer.

An experienced and reliableriver guide is essential in mak-ing your trip down the river safeand enjoyable.

ON THE RIVERAmerican Whitewater offers a

number of safety tips aroundfast-moving waters:

Be a competent swimmer,with the ability to handle your-self underwater.

Wear a solid, correctly fittedhelmetwhen upsets are likely.

Do not boat out of control.Your skills should be sufficientto stop or reach shore beforereaching danger. Do not enter arapid unless you are reasonablysure that you can run it safely.

Have a frank knowledge ofyour boating ability, and dontattempt rivers or rapids that liebeyond that ability.

Be in good physical and men-tal condition, consistent withthe difficulties that may beexpected. Make adjustmentsfor loss of skills due to age,health or fitness. Any healthlimitations must be explainedto your fellow paddlers prior to

starting the trip. Be practiced in self-rescue,

including escape from an over-turned craft.

Be trained in rescue skills,CPR, and first aid with specialemphasis on the recognizingand treating hypothermia. Itmay save your friends life.

Carry equipment needed forunexpected emergencies,including footwear that willprotect your feet when walkingout, a throw rope, knife, whistle,and waterproof matches.

Do not wear bulky jackets,ponchos, heavy boots, or any-thing else that could reduceyour ability to survive a swim.

ON THE LAKEThe BoatUS Foundation for

Boating Safety offers these top10 summer water sport safetytips for water-skiers, wake-boarders and tubers:

Float first: Ensure anyone

being towed has a properly fit-ting life jacket that wont ride upover a wearers head if they takea spill. A Type III vest is bestbecause it has the extra bucklesto provide a snug fit and is builtfor taking a hard fall.

Talk to the hand:A rider hasvery little control over a tube,and skiers and boarders needcontrol help, too. Before anyone jumps in the water, go over afew standard hand signals, suchas stop (hand slashing theneck), slow (thumb down),speed up (thumb up), OK (tipof index finger and thumbtogether), turn (point fingerupward in a circular motion)and return to dock (pat head).

Engine off: Always turn offthe boats engine when a rider isentering or exiting the water.Not only can a prop rotate whilethe motor is in neutral, theengine exhaust produces car-bon monoxide. Also never back

up to retrieve a fallen rider. Wait for the OK: Once a ski-

er is in the water, wait until they

are far enough away from theboat and signal that its OK tostart the engine.

Spotter is a must: Its veryimportant to have constantvisual contact with anyonebeing towed. Its also the law inmost states.

Look before turning: Letsface it. Its the turns that reallymake water sports fun. But

dont leave those at the end ofthe towline guessing when thenext turn is coming. The handsignal for turning is a pointingfinger upward in a circularmotion, then pointing to thedirection of turn.

Think big: Keep in mind thatwith kids on the end of a longtowline, your boats safetyfootprint is now much larger.That means being extra cau-tious when near other boaters,docks, navigational aids, andcrossing wakes.

Two head turns for everydrop: As soon as someonefalls off the tube or a skier orboarder drops, the boat opera-tor should always look to bothsides before turning around fora pick-up.

Good to go: For riders aftera knock down, clasp your handsover your head so those on thetowboat know you are OK andready for retrieval. In somestates a red or orange skierdown flag may need to be dis-played.

Tip up and be seen: A skierwho has fallen in the water canbe seen by others much moreeasily if they keep the ski tipsabove the water.

For more information, go to

BoatUS.org/onlinecourse and click on

State Boating Regulations.


Practice safe habits to enjoy all the waterways in Placer County.

8/14/2019 Fire and Water - 2009

12/12

According to the Asso-ciation of California Water

Agencies, you might besurprised to know thatabout 75 percent of thestates available wateroccurs north of Sacra-mento, while about 80percent of the demandoccurs in the southerntwo-thirds of the state.

In addition, most of therain and snowfall occurs

between October and April, while demand ishighest during the hotand dry summer months.

That might not surpriseyou, but how much moredo you know about thestate water situation?Heres a quick quiz, withanswers below:

1.An acre-foot of water

is about 326,000 gallons,orenough water to:

a. Supply two typicalfamilies for a year.

b. Fill the swimmingpools of a typical Auburnneighborhood.

c. Extinguish a 25-acrewildfire.

d. Water the PlacerHigh School football fieldduring a normal summer.

2.Auburns averageannual rainfall is:

a. 17.36 inchesb. 24.68 inchesc. 29.05 inchesd. 35.91 inches

3. Landscaping accountsfor about half the waterCalifornians use at home.What amount do showersand toilets use?

a. Showers, 5 percent;

toilets, 12 percentb. Showers, 8 percent;

toilets, 15 percent

c. Showers, 18 percent,toilets, 20 percentd. Showers, 25 percent,

toilets, 35 percent

4. A small lawn of about1,000 square feet needsabout 35,000 gallons a yearto survive,but the typicalhomeowner uses about_________ gallons, a suresign of overwatering.

a. 50,000 gallonsb. 60,000 gallonsc. 75,000 gallonsd. 150,000 gallons

5. Central Valley resi-dents use up to 300 gallonsper person per day, whilesome Central Coast resi-dents use as little as _____gallons per day.

a. 25 gallons per dayb. 50 gallons per dayc. 75 gallons per dayd. 100 gallons per day

6. It takes 3.3 acre-feetof water to grow enoughfood for:

a. The Colfax HighSchool football team.

b. The Auburn Journalnewsroom staff.

c. An average family fora year.

d. The state Assemblyand Senate.

7. A water storage proj-ect typically takes ____ to_____ years to design andbuild.

a. 5 years to 10 yearsb. 10 years to 20 yearsc. 20 years to 50 yearsd. A century or more.

8. Groundwater providesabout 40 percent of thestates water supply.In dryyears,that percentage can

go as high as ____ percent.a. 50 percentb. 60 percent

c. 70 percentd. 80 percent

9. California is prone toboth droughts and floods.The most recent prolongeddry spell was a six-yeardrought from 1987 to 1992.The most severe droughton record occurred in twoconsecutive years.Whichones?

a. 1942-43b. 1964-65c. 1976-77d. 2004-05

10. Californias communi-ties, farms, businesses,andenvironment rely on waterfrom a variety of sources.Surface water projects,which capture and deliverrain and snow runoff, pro-vide a major portion of thestates total water supply.The projects include more

than _________ federal,state and local reservoirsand conveyance systems.

a. 250b. 500c. 750d. 1,000

11.Two of the mostimportant projects are thefederal Central Valley Pro-

ject and the State WaterProject.The CVP and SWP

bring water from NorthernCalifornia through theSacramento-San JoaquinRiver Delta for delivery tousers in:

a. The San Joaquin Val-ley

b. Parts of the San Fran-cisco Bay Area

c. Southern Californiad. All of the above

12.The Central Valley

Project delivers 7 millionacre feet of water to thestate.Which of the follow-

ing projects delivers thesecond-most amount?a. State Water Projectb. All-American Canalc. Colorado River Aque-

ductd. Los Angeles Aque-

duct

13. Drought is somethingthat Californians havebecome accustomed toover the years, but it still

catches most of us by sur-prise.What are some majoreffects of drought condi-

tions?a. Irrigation water shutoff in some areas

b. Cost of water increas-es due to short supply

c. Increased groundwa-ter pumping

d. All of the above.

14.Typical actions takenby water districts inresponse to droughtinclude:

a. Street runoff, carwashing banned.

b. Voluntary and

mandatory conservationc. Rebates on water-efficient appliances

d. All of the above.

15.True or false: UrbanSouthern California is usingless water than it did a fewdecades ago, even thoughits population has growntremendously.

a. Trueb. False

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Are you a water whiz or a leaking faucet?

WHATSYOURWATERIQ?Answers:1.a;2.d;3.c;4.c;5.b;6.c;7.b;8.b;9.c;10.d;11.d;12.a;13.d;14.d;15.a.

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Fire and Water - 2009

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