Speak Out For the Moke! (A message from The Foothill Conservancy)

On April 18, the California Natural Resources Agency issued its final Wild and Scenic report and recommendations for the Mokelumne River. The report recommends adding 37 miles of the river from just below Salt Springs Dam to just above Pardee Reservoir to the California Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The report was praised by river advocates and local water agency managers alike in a CNRA press release. 

Thanks to the more than 1,600 people who commented on the study! The overwhelming majority of comments were in favor of Wild and Scenic designation

While this is a big step, we’re not done yet. Securing permanent protection for the Moke will require state legislation. To make that happen, our local officials need to hear from you!  You can bet they’re going to hear from Wild and Scenic opponents dismayed that the state found what we’ve known all along: the Mokelumne is a special state resource and worthy of permanent protection

Please come to speak up for the river you love at one of these water agency meetings this week:

— Calaveras County Water District board, Wednesday, April 25 at 1 pm in San Andreas

— Amador Water Agency board meeting Thursday, April 26, at 9 am in Sutter Hill. 

Please urge the water agency directors to support the recommendations in the study that will both protect the river and local water supply and support moving forward with state Wild and Scenic River legislation.

The agendas and location information are on the EBMUD, CCWD, and AWA websites.

Soon, we expect the Amador and Calaveras County boards of supervisors to weigh in on this. We’ll let you know when those meetings are scheduled.

For more information

For more information about the river or this alert, please contact Foothill Conservancy at 209-223-3508 or send us an e-mail.