PCWA canal operations to remain ceased in Loomis

The PCWA Board of Directors on Thursday voted to discontinue operations of the Eastside Canal in Loomis. The 3.7-mile canal is a raw water conveyance, which consists of underground pipeline and short segments of open canal, begins near PCWA's storage yard on Rippey Road and terminates south of Sierra College Boulevard. According to PCWA, the canal once served large agricultural customers in the Loomis Basin and recently provided seasonal and year-round raw water to 23 customers adjacent to Brace Road before shutdown. PCWA noted the canal was shut down after operation and maintenance challenges, including removing sediment and debris, addressing pipe failures and leaks caused by root intrusion over the past decade. According to the staff report, a root ball intrusion was removed in May 2024 and two leaks repaired, resulting in $30,000 in repairs, in June 2024. PCWA confirmed additional investigation was required after large amounts of water was still being lost after repairs were made. At the Feb. 20 meeting, it was determined water delivery would remain suspended due to the canal needing an estimated $80,000 in repairs without the guaranteed result of reliable service and amount of water lost during operation under current canal conditions. The board directed staff to look into various factors, including a possible delivery alternative and grants for the operation, maintenance and/or renewal or replacement of raw water systems. The staff report notes PCWA staff analyzed four alternatives: a current alignment replacement with an estimated cost of $4.7 million, new delivery from Yankee Hill Canal with an anticipated cost of $3.1 million, new delivery from Secret Ravine with a cost of $1.07 million and permanently ceasing operations of the canal. Due to anticipated costs and environmental impacts, agency staff recommended discontinuing operations. At Thursday's meeting, the board received six comments in opposition to the recommendation. Commenters also noted how important water delivery is to the 23 customers the canal services and asked that PCWA work with the customers to find a more viable solution than ceasing canal operation. "Losing that water has been, obviously, a real hardship," said Loomis Mayor Pro Tempore Jan Clark-Crets. "At one of those meetings that I attended earlier in the year, I was encouraged to hear that you're exploring alternatives for the 23 residents impacted by this canal closure. I hope you'll continue to work with them … anything in your power to assist them." The board voted unanimously to approve agency staff's recommendation to cease canal operation. Following the board's vote, a handful of residents in attendance for the canal item left the meeting. Before the item, the board spent roughly 30 minutes in closed session for anticipated litigation. According to the staff report, a threat of litigation was expressed during the public comment period during the Eastside Canal item on Sept. 4. The board confirmed there was nothing to report once it returned from closed session.