Aerial view of French Meadows Campground, with the  picturesque French Meadows Reservoir in the background.  Major upgrades are coming to enhance the visitor experience  and environmental sustainability. Photo courtesy of Placer County Water Agency

AUBURN, CA (MPG) - At its Jan. 16 meeting, the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors approved construction contracts for two major projects for 2025: Modernization of the French Meadows Campground and modification of two diversion dams on  the North Fork and South Fork of Long Canyon Creek. 

Both upgrades are required for the operation of the Middle Fork Project under PCWA’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license agreement. The campground rehabilitation will improve the recreational user experience, and the diversion dam modifications will benefit fish and wildlife habitat, reduce maintenance costs, and increase water diversion efficiency. 

The board awarded BRCO Construction a nearly $6.8 million contract to upgrade French Meadows, PCWA’s most popular campground is a favorite among local residents, with more  than half its visitors calling Placer County home. Due to construction, the campground, which has more than 70 spaces, will be  closed for the 2025 season. 

“This will be a complete rehabilitation of the  campground,” explained Ben Ransom, PCWA’s Environmental Services Manager. “French Meadows was originally constructed  in the mid-1960s. It will be totally upgraded  with wider and longer parking spaces to  accommodate more modern vehicles and  camping trailers. The roads within the  campground will be widened to accommodate larger trailers, too. 

“Tent pads will be flattened, not sloped,” Ransom added. “We’re adding more bathrooms and  faucets; they’ll all be ADA compliant. So will the new picnic tables and fire rings. We’re also  adding a small amphitheater/seating area for public gatherings.”  

The campground work will take place at the same time as the previously awarded French  Meadows South Shore Water Supply project, which includes a new vertical well and distribution  lines. The South Shore project serves the campground’s water needs as well as the nearby boat  ramp and picnic area. By implementing the campground and water supply projects  concurrently, impacts on French Meadows recreational use can be limited to one season. 

“The existing water supply is a low-yield horizontal well; the pipes are old and constantly  leaking,” Ransom said. “All the waterlines – more than 5,000 feet of pipes – will be replaced.  We’re planning to get all the work done in one year, so the campground should be reopened in  2026.” These upgrades ensure the campground continues to serve the community while  aligning with PCWA’s long term sustainability goals. 

In addition, the board approved a $12.7 million contract with Granite Construction Company  for upgrades to North Fork and South Fork Long Canyon Diversion Dams. The two small  concrete diversion dams and water intake structures are part of the Middle Fork Project, and  crucial to making the most of PCWA’s water storage and power generating capabilities. These  improvements will be funded through MFP funds, not by ratepayers. 

Located on Long Canyon Creek, the dams combined can divert up to 300 cubic feet per second  (cfs) of supplemental water flow directly into the Middle Fork Tunnel, which feeds the Middle  Fork Powerhouse when it is operating, or goes into storage at Hell Hole Reservoir when it is not.  PCWA’s largest reservoir, Hell Hole can hold about 207,000 acre-feet of water. 

However, sediment build-up in the pools behind the dams hampered their efficiency. The dams  also represented downstream passage barriers to the wild rainbow trout that are found in the  creek.  

“During a high-flow year, the diversion pools will completely fill up with sediments,” Ransom  explained. “We have to manually remove it and that’s become increasingly costly. Plus, we’re  running out of places in the forest to put that excavated sediment. It really belongs in the  creeks themselves.” 

The revamped dams and water intake structures will allow sediments to pass through, just as  nature intends. New screens also will allow for fish passage downstream. 

“These upgrades help our operations and maintenance,” Ransom said. “It also helps the fish. It  helps the riparian environment including the alders and willows. It helps everything, a true win win for our operations and the ecosystem.”  

“With this project, we can more efficiently divert water at both facilities and reduce costly  maintenance while also providing environmental benefits,” Ransom said.  

The Long Canyon upgrades support PCWA’s ability to divert the full volume of its water rights,  enhancing storage at French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs. This strengthens water supply  reliability and hydropower generation, key components of PCWA’s mission to manage Placer  County’s resources effectively. 

The next regular meeting of the PCWA Board of Directors will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at the PCWA Business Center, 144 Ferguson Road, in Auburn. PCWA board meetings are open to the public.  

For information on PCWA board meetings, contact the Clerk to the Board at (530) 823- 4850 or (800) 464-0030.