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WATER MORATORIUM

In February 2003, the State Department of Health Services (DHS) made a finding that Brooktrails does not have enough water supply to serve more than half of its current population of about 1,500 homes in a drought year. DHS then issued a "Compliance Order" which prevents the District from adding any more water connections to its existing system, until and unless enough water supply and storage can be created to satisfy DHS that our current population can be served. Then DHS will consider allowing more connections to be added to the system. This is called being under a "water moratorium."

This means that lot owners who have not yet built on their lots will not be able to build, until and unless the moratorium is lifted. While most people who were already in the process of building on their lots were allowed by DHS to continue and to receive a connection, no further connections are possible for those who had not yet begun their construction process in February 2003. Brooktrails must comply with the DHS Order and has no authority to make any exceptions to the moratorium.

We receive many questions about the moratorium daily, and many people ask if there is some other way they can get water for their lot. Unfortunately, because of numerous factors including state law, water district regulations, lot size, water rights ownership, and Mendocino County code, it is not possible for Brooktrails lot owners to get water sufficient to allow construction by any means other than a Brooktrails water district connection.

DHS has placed moratoriums on many California communities as regulations for drinking water supply have become more strict. Some communities have not been able to get their moratorium lifted and, even though Brooktrails has a better chance than many smaller water districts, we cannot guarantee when or if we will be able to get ours lifted. Many large and expensive water projects will be required, with environmental and regulatory hurdles to be overcome. What we can guarantee is that Brooktrails is energetically and diligently pursuing every possible means to comply with the State's order. We have multiple projects in progress and planned.

You can read the DHS  Compliance Order  link here. You can get much more information on the District's moratorium-related projects at these links too.
We send out a newsletter to each lot owner around May each year giving an update on all water moratorium-related projects. This newsletter goes to the address you gave the County for your tax bills.

 Frequently Asked Questions     Newsletters from Btcsd

We now have another water project that should be of interest to the public.

Hanson Engineering said in January 2007 that Lake Ada Rose could potentially be raised by 38 feet, bringing the dam crest to approximately 95 feet and creating a maximum water depth of 85 feet. This would take the lake area from 6 surface acres to 24 surface acres in size. The acre-feet will increase from 138 acre-feet (perfect state-of-condition) to 725 acre-feet. [In essence, this dam would be almost 3 times larger than our current Lake Emily.] While we presently have 1,511 single family residences, the project would provide enough storage for approximately 3,873 single family residences. This would bring us very close to the 4,000 build-out envisioned by the Brooktrails Specific Plan (part of the Mendocino County General Plan).

The concept is simple. We would tear out the older dam and replace it with a bigger dam. Instead of backing up water in one drainage area, we would back up the water into two drainage areas. Our water rights application is currently being reviewed by the CA Division of Water Rights. The good news is that we are not aware of any landslide problems in the area of the existing dam. Furthermore, we are not aware of any Anadromous fish issues because there is a barrier about 400 feet below the existing spillway. This would be classified an off-site reservoir according to CA Fish & Game, yet again another valuable aspect of this project. The water would be pumped from Lake Emily (in-stream classification) down to our water plant, and then pumped up to Lake Ada Rose (off-site classification). This would significantly reduce future siltation into Lake Ada Rose. Very few vacant lots (and no homes) would be affected by this dam raise. As to roads, Primrose Drive would be routed over the top of the dam instead of below the dam, as is now the case. Lilac Road in the rear would be rerouted 1/8th of a mile behind the reservoir. Two lift sewer lift stations would have to be built. Another item to consider is solar energy. The dam borrow site is the hill located directly above the water plant. Approximately 3 to 4 acres (southwestern slope and aesthetically terraced) could be converted to maximum solar use. This solar energy source would be virtually available sunup to sundown and could help offset the Districts $100,000 + annual electricity bill. Visually less than 1/2 of 1 percent of Brooktrails homes would see the solar field. Costs of these projects are being evaluated by Hanson Engineering.

Please do not throw away any mail you receive from Brooktrails. It is always important information for you.

Mike Chapman is Brooktrails General Manager.
Business Telephone: 707.459.2494
Facsimile: 707.459.0358

Business Address:
24860 Birch Street
Willits, Ca. 95490-9475

Note: The General Manager cannot conduct District Business via e-mail, please use our business phone number above.