The Placer County Water Agency celebrates its 50th anniversary Thursday, Sept.13 at the PCWA Business Center in Auburn.
This is the first of a three-part article. Today, a brief look at the history of the agency.
Turn on the faucet at the sink. Open the spigot in the garden. Water flows. We use water many ways: to drink, wash, bathe, clean, cook, irrigate and even to recreate.
We, the people of Placer County, owners of the Placer County Water Agency, take the availability of our water for granted.
Since the first mining ditches were built in the 1850s to the transition of the canal system of wooden flumes from mining to fruit growing in the 1890s, water has been vital to Placer County.
However, looking back at the past, we can appreciate the foresight of those individuals, members of the Placer County Board of Supervisors and others, who recognized the importance of water to the future growth of Placer County
In the 1940s and early 1950s, water was supplied to Placer County through a variety of purveyors including Pacific Gas & Electric.
Even in the early 1950s, the leaders of the county were concerned that the water system in place would not have the capacity to serve a potential growing population.
Those influential individuals were also aware of the increasing pressure to export Placer County's water to other parts of California.
Before the PCWA was formed in 1957, both irrigation and domestic water in Placer County was provided by Pacific Gas & Electric using the Yuba River watershed system.
PCWA was formed to develop the water resources of the American River in Placer County before someone else did it.
In 1957, Francis Lindsay, 6th District State Assemblyman, authored the Placer County Water Agency Act through a special act of the state Legislature.
By forming the PCWA, the act ensured that the water resources within the 1,500- square-mile boundary of Placer County would be developed and protected for the people of the county.
After the formation of the PCWA, a General Plan for the county's water resources was developed.
By 1961, county residents approved a $140 million revenue bond for the development of the Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project. This massive project consisted of French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs, several smaller reservoirs and a series of electric power plants.
In 1962, PCWA was granted 120,000 acre feet annually of water from the Middle and North Forks of the American River from the state of California.
Built between 1963 and 1967, the Middle Fork American River Project played a key role in assuring an enduring water supply for Placer County. The renewable clean green energy is sold to PG&E.
In 1968, following the completion of the Middle Fork Project, PCWA acquired previously existing water systems extending from Alta to Roseville from PG&E, enabling it to provide retail and wholesale water to much of western Placer County.
From 1957 until 1975, the Placer County Board of Supervisors served as the ex officio members of the board of directors of PCWA.
In 1975 the first board of directors assumed governance responsibility from the Placer County Board of Supervisors. One board member represents a geographic area, a supervisor's district.
With 500 miles of treated water pipelines and still using 165 miles of Gold Rush-era canals, PCWA provides high quality water for domestic, irrigation, industrial and recreational use and has harnessed the county's water resources to generate electricity.
PCWA for 50 years has planned and managed what may well be the single most important element of Placer County's future: water supply.
Next week, a look at the PCWA today.
Saul Wiseman can be reached at swiseman368@sbcglobal.net