On August 14, 2021, the Caldor Fire broke out in the community of Grizzly Flats. The fire overtook the community and advanced northerly into the District’s service area, eventually encompassing more than 220,000 acres. Fire crews and El Dorado Irrigation District (EID/District) staff did well in protecting most of EID's water system and our recreation areas that were in the path of the fire. However, some sections of the El Dorado Canal that delivers Project 184 water supplies from our high elevation lakes, specifically Flumes 4, 5, 6 and 30, were destroyed. Project 184 is a hydroelectric energy generation project that more importantly includes a water delivery system that represents approximately one third of the District’s available drinking water supplies.

EID’s Board of Directors declared an emergency and approved contracts to GHD, Inc. for design and construction management support and to Syblon Reid Contractors for construction to expedite replacement and restoration of the water conveyance system. In addition, contracts were also approved for hazard tree removal along the Project 184 system affected by the fire.

DRONE VIDEOS

Flumes 4, 5, and 6: March 2022

Flumes 4, 5, and 6: November 2021

Flume 30: March 2022

Flume 30: December 2021

Replacement of the destroyed flumes began in September 2021.Crews are working 24/7, as weather and working conditions permit, to restore the operation of the canal as quickly as possible.

Crews have overcome major obstacles like working in remote and tight conditions, severe rain events in October and November, and then significant heavy and extreme snowfalls in December.

Before the contractor could begin with rebuilding the flumes, they first needed to gain access into these remote sites by building new roads and improving existing roads, removing hazardous materials from the fire, and addressing unstable canal bench foundations.

The majority of the earthwork operations for Flumes 5 and 6 are complete, as well as the excavation work at Flumes 4 and 30.

Reconstruction of the flumes must be complete this spring in order to resume water delivery through Project 184’s water delivery system and regain access to this significant water supply source and ensure adequate supply for 2022 and beyond.

Trees damaged during the Caldor Fire are a specific risk that required immediate mitigation action to fall hazard trees. Hazard trees present substantial risk to public and worker safety, and threaten additional damage to the District’s critical water conveyance infrastructure.

The District secured the services of Registered Professional Foresters to conduct surveys along the El Dorado Canal and adjacent lands to identify and mark hazard trees. The foresters identified over 1,800 trees hazard trees. The District also issued three competitively bid contracts focusing on hazard tree falling efforts along the El Dorado Canal. Hazard tree abatement along the Project 184 access roads, El Dorado Canal, Mormon Emigrant Trail to Camp Creek Tunnel upstream portal areas are anticipated to be completed by spring 2022.

• Flume 4 - rebuilt approximately 54 feet of damaged elevated flume
• Flume 2A – rebuilt 16 feet of damaged flume
• Repaired damaged section of concrete Flume 10 caused by tree fall 
• Relocated Camp Creek gauge site to make room for excavator removing debris
• Removed slide material from canal in two locations & installed overtop flume to convey future stormwater and debris
• Rebuilt two gauging sites for El Dorado Canal and Alder Creek
• Replaced numerous conduit runs and wiring in the burn area
• Replaced water filtering system at Camp 1 house
• Installed log booms at Jenkinson Lake inlet streams to catch debris
• Rebuilt Plum Creek siphon decking
• Replaced wood supports at Echo and Alder Conduits