Archive for Community
Pine Cove Water District has an updated weather station now live on our website. The new weather station shows the current temperature and the high and love of the day. It also displays current wind direction and mph, humidity percentage, daily rain total with seasonal accumulation and barometric pressure. We are very excited to offer this new system to our customers and we hope you enjoy having current and accurate weather readings for right here in Pine Cove. Click Here!
The intense storm that brought great damage to our mountain roads and highways on Valentine’s Day and left the community and tourist with only one rout option off the mountain. Today, We are so excited to see that Caltrans announced an update on the accessibility via State Route 74 from Hemet.
Starting this Easter weekend, Saturday April 20th the SR-74 from Hemet to Mountain Center will be reopening with limited access. Pilot car escort access on the SR-74 is will be available Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st between the hours of 6 a.m. and midnight in both directions. These hours of operation for the pilot car will only be for this coming holiday weekend and another limited schedule will be in effect starting Monday April 22.
As of Monday April 22nd, driving the SR-74 (Mountain Center to Hemet) will be available with limited access by pilot car seven days a week. The Pilot car access will only be available from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and then 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. daily. This will be the continuing work and pilot car schedule until additional work is completed which will eventually open full access with flagging on the SR-74 until the completion of the project.
Be advised that with the limited access opening of SR-74 there are some Conditions that must be followed during the escort process. Per Caltrans announcement:
Travelers will experience delays for the limited access on SR-74. All agencies involved in this massive project are committed to keeping the public safe while traveling on SR-74. The contractor will continue to work 24/7 on SR-74 to continue to expedite repairs in preparation for full access.
SR-243 is open to motorists from Idyllwild to Lake Fulmor. SR 243 remains closed from Banning to Idyllwild until further notice to the public.
April 10, 2019
Roadwork continues on routes 243 and 74. PCWD provides support for the construction projects.
Click for May 9 Aerial Video hwy 243
Click for April 19 Aerial Video hwy 74
Click for April 12 Aerial Video hwy 243
Click for April 10 Aerial Video hwy 74
Click for April 1 Aerial Video hwy 243 & 74
Click for March 20 Aerial Video hwy 74
Posted in: Around the District, Community, Road Conditions
Leave a Comment (0) →Last month, we received a lot of moisture in a short period of time. There was water wasted due to customer valves being left on. We believe all customer leaks have been located and turned off. At least 1.2 million gallons of water was wasted. There are damages from the storm. There are roads to repair and main lines to secure. As weather continues to be warmer and drier, we are preparing to start the necessary repairs to the District roads and facilities. The plan is to accomplish this over the next two to three months and then the District crews will continue our main line project on Pine Ridge, Deer Path and Laurel Trail. Our goal is to tie all the meter connections to the new main line and abandon the old 4” main line. Extensions will continue on Rosaline and Laurel Trail as time and weather allow us, this fall.
A special thanks to Supervisor Washington and his legal assistant Opel Helwig, for their continued support of the PCWD through CSA #38. Many large steamer fire hydrants that have been purchased by CSA #38, are an asset to our community. We will continue to install larger main lines to accommodate these hydrants.
Due to all of the great moisture we received and our anticipation that the ground water levels will improve, effective 4/1/2019, we will be returning to Stage 1 water conservation level, which is “voluntary compliance”. Rates do not change between stages, up or down. Although, as previously approved thru Prop 218 process, a multi-year plan was adopted, and effective 4/1/2019, the bi-monthly rate of $65.00 will increase to $68.00. The increase for the cost per 1000 gallons will show up on your 6/1/2019 billing statement. All charges of the District were based on costs determined by our Engineering firm last year.
MHI Survey: All customers within our District have received two requests from California Rural Water requesting income information. This process is part of the Median Household Income Survey, requested for and paid for by PCWD. Many of you have responded, but If you are not comfortable with doing so, I’m fine with that. I understand. However, a third notice will be sent out in the near future. If you have NOT filled one out before, please do so. We are only 20 responses short to hit the minimum amount needed. If completed, I believe this will save us thousands of dollars a year, and most important, it will improve the opportunity to receive grant funds and low interest loans.
Our Board of Directors and District staff continues to be very transparent. We encourage our customers to visit our website and blog. Viewing both helps you learn and stay informed of whats happening in the Pine Cove Water District. The Board meets monthly, the 2nd Wednesday @ 10:00 am, and as always, the meeting is open to the public. And yes, I continue to have an open door policy and I encourage everyone to call or come see me if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. Please!
Unfortunately, our weather station up top at Rocky Point Property has not been working properly. It shows the weather, but not the accumulation of rain/snow. We are in the process of researching options and hoping to have the new system up and running on the website soon. This spring, we will be adding more webcams on our Dutch Flats properties, for wildlife and to aid us in keeping an eye out for trespassers.
Coming up is fiscal year 2019/2020. I don’t anticipate many changes. We plan on continuing our Leak Reward and Rebate Programs, giving away compost and wood chips, being as helpful and transparent as possible to each and every customer.
If you haven’t already, please provide or update your email address with the District Office staff. E-mails are a great tool to help us inform you, of important items and emergencies. Contact the office with your info. We will not sell or give your info to private enterprises.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to shut your water off when you leave your mountain home, located at or near our water meter. You will find it by the green 4’ stake.
Hwy’s 243 and 74 remain closed, estimated to be maybe 4 months until the opening. For up to date info, please go to the Idyllwild Town Crier website.
24-7/365 days a year, one of us will always be on call, for after hour emergencies. Please call 951-294-8282. If you need to get in touch with Becky or Lindsay in the office, please call between 9-4 Mon-Friday at 951-659-2675. If you need to fax anything, our fax # is 951-659-3112. Jerry can be reached at the office number, or on his cell 951-236-9163. Please visit our website and blog at www.pcwd.org.
In the last month we have experienced very cold temperatures and with cold temperatures comes an increased risk of frozen or burst pipes and leaks. In the past four weeks the workers have been out searching, listening, and assessing for leaks. Countless hours of digging to uncover water meters. Many emergency shutoffs have been called in because of leaks. The water production had doubled in a short time and with all the leaks we found combined the total of water is a minimum of 1,200,700 gallons. Wow.
There were 25 leaks located around the district and 20 of them are not full time residents and they did not shut the water off at the street at the customer valve.
We appreciate all the help from our customers in locating a leak and as always you will receive a leak reward for calling in a confirmed leak on a property tat isn’t your own. As always we highly recommend shutting off your customer valve at the street if you plan to leave your mountain home for 24 hours or more.
One of the many wonderful things we get to experience in this beautiful mountain town is all the wild life. I love spring time and seeing the beautiful butterflies touch down in my garden is magical. While butterfly bushes do attract these majestic creatures, it is actually milk weed where Monarch butterflies call home, mate and lay their eggs.
Planting milkweed will support the monarch populations, and their incredible migration. Monarchs cannot survive without milkweed. Monarch butterflies need milkweed to lay their eggs and the caterpillars of these butterflies only eat milkweed plants. We have lost much milkweed from the natural landscape with shifting land management practices. Planting milkweed is a great way to help other pollinators too because milkweed provides valuable nectar to many types of bees and butterflies.
Adult monarchs will drink the nectar of milkweed and many other flowers. In fact, they need sources of nectar to nourish them throughout the entire growing season. Include a variety of native flowering species with different bloom times to provide monarchs with the food they need to reproduce in the spring and summer and to migrate in the fall. Offering a wide array of native nectar plants will attract monarchs and many other butterflies and pollinators to your habitat all season long.
You can check with local native plant nurseries or greenhouses for their recommendations of good pollinator plants for your area.
Milkweeds can be propagated from seeds, cuttings, and, in some cases, from root divisions. Milkweed seeds can be planted in prepared beds outdoors or started indoors in flats. We recommend the latter approach since germination rates are usually higher indoors and it is easier to establish your milkweeds with transplanted seedlings that are well-rooted and therefore more resistant to weather extremes and pests.
Harvest and Storage of Milkweed Seeds
If you have some milkweed and would like more for next year to promote butterfly a habitat in your garden; the timing of the collection of milkweed pods or seeds is critical. Mature pods are those that are within a day or two of opening. If you squeeze the pods and they don’t open easily, they usually do not contain mature brown seeds. Seeds well into the process of browning and hardening will germinate when planted the next season. Pale or white seeds should be not collected.
Preparation for planting
To stratify seeds, place them in cold, moist potting soil (sterilized soil is best but is not required) in a dark place for several weeks or months. Since most people prefer not to place potting soil in their refrigerators, an alternative is to place the seeds between moist paper towels in a plastic bag. This procedure works well, in part because there are fewer fungi and bacteria available to attack the seeds. After a stratification period of 3-6 weeks, the seeds can be planted in warm (70˚F), moist soil. Without stratification, the percentage of seeds that germinate is usually low.
Germinating, Growing and Transplanting
Milkweed seedlings can be started indoors in a greenhouse or under artificial lighting and then transplanted outdoors after the average date of last frost. If seeds are started indoors, allow 4-8 weeks growing time before transplanting. Plastic flats can be used to start the seeds. Fill the flats with a soil mix thoroughly soak the soil, and let the excess water drain. Sow the seeds by scattering them on the soil surface 1/4-1/2 inch apart, and then cover with about 1/4 inch of additional soil mix. Gently mist the soil surface with water to dampen the additional soil mix that has been added. To improve germination rates, you can place the seeds in packets made from paper towels and soak them in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting. This method seems to work especially well for seeds of species that require stratification.
After the seeds are sown in the flats, cover each flat with a clear plastic cover or a plastic bag to keep the seeds from drying out while germinating. Then, place the flat under grow lights, in a warm sunny window, or in a greenhouse. Most seeds will germinate in 7-10 days if the flats are maintained at 75˚F. After the seeds have germinated, remove the plastic covering from the flats. Once the seedlings have emerged, the soil should be kept moist by watering the flat from the bottom. You can water from the bottom by placing the flat in a sink or a larger flat filled with 2 inches of water until moisture appears on the soil surface. The soil should be kept moist but some care is needed to keep the seedlings from getting too wet to prevent any fungal growth.
The plants are ready to be transplanted when they are about 3-6 inches in height. Before transplanting, acclimate the plants to outdoor conditions for a few days by placing them in a sheltered location during the day and then bringing them indoors at night. The seedlings should be planted 6-24 inches apart depending on the species (check the back of your seed packets for information). Newly transplanted plants should be watered frequently. Add mulch around the seedlings soon after planting. The mulch holds in the moisture and minimizes the growth of competing weeds. The seedlings should be fertilized 2-3 times during the growing season if using water-soluble fertilizer or once a season if you utilize a granulated time-release formulation.
When to Plant
Milkweed seeds can be sown outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Plant the seeds early since those planted late in the season may not germinate because of high temperatures. Keep in mind that seeds have a range of soil temperatures at which they will germinate. Remember sunny conditions can cause the soil temperatures can be much higher in daytime. Germination outdoors depends on soil moisture and temperature and could take several weeks if conditions are not ideal.
Pine Cove residents woke up this morning to cold temperatures, frozen windshields, icy roads and a little bit of snow! A dusting of snow this morning was enough to give our mountain that gorgeous winter shimmer. With this colder weather, please be careful while driving on the icy roads. As always remember to winterize your home and turn off your water at the customer valve before leaving your mountain home.
Here is a photo from our webcam…. The snow has melted from the trees here but as you can see its still covering the high country! What a beautiful day in Pine Cove!
Posted in: Community, Snow, Weather, Winter
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If you are new to the hill the annual Idyllwild Halloween Carnival is Tuesday October 31st. The parade begins at 4:00pm at the top of N. Circle Dr. The parade leads to the center of town where there will be a delightful carnival. The Carnival is from 5 -8 includes food, games, dancing, and a DJ and there will be a costume contest is for both humans and pets. There will also be more spooky fun happening this weekend and Halloween night at the Lake Hemet Haunted Village. The Haunted Village is open Friday and Saturday night and Halloween night Tuesday, Oct. 31. Gates open at 7 p.m. and the party ends at 10p.m.
PCWD would like to wish everyone a very Happy Halloween and we hope everyone enjoys a fun safe family fright night!!!
Posted in: Community, Customer Infomation, From the Office, Holidays
Leave a Comment (0) →Helpful hints on how to conserve our presious water
Over half the water use inside a home takes place in the bathroom.
Turn off the water while shaving or brushing teeth. (Savings: up to 4 gallons a minute, or up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four!)
Take short showers instead of tub baths; showers use less water. (If you keep your showers to under 5 minutes you’ll save up to 1,000 gallons a month.)
If you do take a bath, be sure to plug the drain right away and adjust the temperature as you fill the tub.
Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket. Use a leak-free, high efficiency toilet. (Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home: nearly 30 percent of residential indoor water consumption.)
When washing your hands, turn off the water while you lather.
In the kitchen Cook up some real water savings.
Wash only full loads of dishes, and select the appropriate water level or load size option on the dishwasher.
Do not use water to defrost frozen foods; thaw foods in the refrigerator overnight.
Scrape, rather than rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
Compost food waste instead of using the garbage disposal or throwing it in the trash.
Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool
Rinse out some real money savings with your laundry.
Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
Consider purchasing a high efficiency washing machine, which can save over 50 percent in laundry water and energy use.
Always fix leaks everywhere.
You can significantly reduce water use by simply repairing leaks in fixtures (faucets and showerheads), pipes, and toilets. A leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons per day. That would be like flushing your toilet more than 50 times for no reason!
Outdoors
Of the estimated 29 billion gallons of water used daily by households in the United States, nearly 9 billion gallons (30 percent) is used outdoors. In the hot summer months, or in dry climates, a household’s outdoor water use can be as high as 70 percent.
Native and drought tolerant plants can make a beautiful alternative to unused turf areas in your yard. Purchase an inexpensive hose timer to avoid over-watering. Soaker hoses are also a great option for avoiding evaporation.
Collecting rainwater to use on your landscape can help you save water outdoors.
Many local water providers offer rebates on efficient irrigation devices.
Use a broom or electric blower to clean driveways and sidewalks, rather than hosing them off.
When washing your car, use an adjustable nozzle or sprayer and turn off the water stream while soaping your vehicle.
Posted in: Community, Conservation, Leaks, Uncategorized
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Just a quick note to remind everyone that the Pine Cove Water District will be closed on Monday, September 4th in honor of Labor Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, September 5th at 9 a.m. If you have a water emergency, there will be someone on call. You can call the office and listen to the recorded message or call 951-294-8282, which is our emergency number. Remember, this number is for true water emergencies only. Please wait until Tuesday to call about an other water issues. Our normal business hours for next week will be Tuesday through Friday, from 9 am until 4 pm.
Happy Labor Day!!!