With your next sip of EBMUD water, take a moment to appreciate where it comes from. High in the Sierra Nevada, vast pine forests blanket much of the Mokelumne River watershed. That vibrant landscape captures the snowmelt and rainfall that ultimately flow to our homes, and those mountain woodlands serve as nature’s first filters.
Forests play critical roles in safeguarding water quality. They keep our water free of pollutants. They prevent excessive amounts of organic matter and sediment from entering reservoirs and straining water treatment operations. But they also face frequent wildfires, prolonged droughts and widespread tree mortality – challenges that can only be tackled through strong partnerships.
For 25 years, EBMUD has been a proud member of the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority (UMRWA). Together with agencies in Amador, Calaveras and Alpine counties and the U.S. Forest Service, we develop consensus and work to build long-term environmental resilience through collaborative and comprehensive forest management. This includes tree thinning, aspen stand restoration and erosion control projects.
UMRWA has successfully reduced wildfire fuels across 13,000 acres of Calaveras County over the past couple of years and has another 13,000 acres in Amador County in its sights. The work is supported by $25 million in grants from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Cal Fire and the Wildlife Conservation Board.
This year UMRWA also aims to improve the health of 225,000 acres of national forest lands that flank the upper Mokelumne River. This effort will benefit from cooperation among local, regional and federal stakeholders. Water quality starts at the source. EBMUD’s commitment to watershed protection and resilient forests ensures you get the best every time you turn on your tap.
Learn more at ebmud.com/watersupply
Photo above: Courtesy of the World Resources Institute.