Desert Water Agency (DWA) property
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:33 am
'Tis the season . . .
The DWA owns one square mile of property near the bottom of Mt. San Jacinto's north side, where Falls Creek and Snow Creek reach the desert floor. Specifically, they own section 33.
I knew that. A DWA employee told me that last year. But the other day I was motivated to once again confirm the location of the DWA's property boundary. I had long conversations with knowledgeable people at USFS, BLM, and Riverside County. I pored over obscure property maps provided by BLM and Riverside County. And then I spoke with the DWA's general manager. Here is the conclusion: the DWA only owns section 33 on the north side of Mt. San Jacinto.
In light of the controversy surrounding trespassing on the DWA's property, I strongly encourage climbers to find an alternate route around section 33 -- in fact, there is already a fairly established (albeit longer) alternate that skirts way around the property.
For some insight into the controversy, here is an excerpt of a public letter sent by the Monument Manager of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on March 11:
"The DWA's property, which includes section 33, Township 3 South, Range 3 East in its entirety, is prominently posted "no trespassing." But hikers regularly trespass on the private property for a view of the falls or to otherwise recreate in the scenic drainage. The following is a message regarding the Desert Water Agency's operation. I hope you will help communicate to hikers through your respective hiking club webpages.
Desert Water Agency operates a surface water supply system from Snow Creek and Falls Creek Canyons, among others. The operational water supply system is sanctioned under permit by the State of California Health Department and is subject to very strict guidelines. Permit guidelines and provisions specify that NO ACCESS TO DWA'S PROPERTY WILL BE ALLOWED IN ANY OF THE DOMESTIC WATERSHEDS. Any access other than that allowed by the DWA is trespassing. Anyone found trespassing on DWA property will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
It is important to understand that trespass by hikers onto DWA's property has resulted in the agency having to occasionally discontinue using this water source for municipal purposes when water samples did not meet standards for human consumption. This temporary suspension of operations has been largely due to hikers having defecated, urinated, and simply caused increased erosion by traversing the property. Suspension of operations, as you may guess, is a very expensive proposition for the DWA. They have to provide water to their customers from other sources when the Snow Creek/Falls Creek operation is shut down."
I won't comment on the letter, but just offer it up as an indication of the seriousness of the trespassing issue.
The DWA owns one square mile of property near the bottom of Mt. San Jacinto's north side, where Falls Creek and Snow Creek reach the desert floor. Specifically, they own section 33.
I knew that. A DWA employee told me that last year. But the other day I was motivated to once again confirm the location of the DWA's property boundary. I had long conversations with knowledgeable people at USFS, BLM, and Riverside County. I pored over obscure property maps provided by BLM and Riverside County. And then I spoke with the DWA's general manager. Here is the conclusion: the DWA only owns section 33 on the north side of Mt. San Jacinto.
In light of the controversy surrounding trespassing on the DWA's property, I strongly encourage climbers to find an alternate route around section 33 -- in fact, there is already a fairly established (albeit longer) alternate that skirts way around the property.
For some insight into the controversy, here is an excerpt of a public letter sent by the Monument Manager of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on March 11:
"The DWA's property, which includes section 33, Township 3 South, Range 3 East in its entirety, is prominently posted "no trespassing." But hikers regularly trespass on the private property for a view of the falls or to otherwise recreate in the scenic drainage. The following is a message regarding the Desert Water Agency's operation. I hope you will help communicate to hikers through your respective hiking club webpages.
Desert Water Agency operates a surface water supply system from Snow Creek and Falls Creek Canyons, among others. The operational water supply system is sanctioned under permit by the State of California Health Department and is subject to very strict guidelines. Permit guidelines and provisions specify that NO ACCESS TO DWA'S PROPERTY WILL BE ALLOWED IN ANY OF THE DOMESTIC WATERSHEDS. Any access other than that allowed by the DWA is trespassing. Anyone found trespassing on DWA property will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
It is important to understand that trespass by hikers onto DWA's property has resulted in the agency having to occasionally discontinue using this water source for municipal purposes when water samples did not meet standards for human consumption. This temporary suspension of operations has been largely due to hikers having defecated, urinated, and simply caused increased erosion by traversing the property. Suspension of operations, as you may guess, is a very expensive proposition for the DWA. They have to provide water to their customers from other sources when the Snow Creek/Falls Creek operation is shut down."
I won't comment on the letter, but just offer it up as an indication of the seriousness of the trespassing issue.