Jennifer Chapman, Lindsay Van Laningham
Significant improvements mean more recreational opportunities. What to know before you go.
PLACERVILLE, Calif. – SMUD continues to make significant improvements to popular Eldorado National Forest campgrounds and other facilities in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area, including the construction of two segments of bike trail at Union Valley Reservoir.
The Union Valley Bike Trail segments being constructed are located between Wench Creek and Yellowjacket campgrounds, and between Wolf Creek and West Point campgrounds. These new segments will connect to the existing paved trail. Construction should be complete by the end of 2022. Once completed, there will be a continuous paved bike trail stretching well over 12 miles around the east and north sides of Union Valley Reservoir, from Jones Fork to West Point campgrounds. Future plans include an unpaved mountain bike trail on the south side of Union Valley Reservoir.
The improvements are part of $150 million in upgrades and enhancements to existing recreation facilities related to SMUD’s Upper American River Project (UARP) license to operate its hydroelectric power plants throughout the Crystal Basin Recreation Area, mostly around SMUD reservoirs.
Several projects have been completed – meaning they are available to the large numbers of campers, hikers, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts who come every year to enjoy what the forest offers. But others are still undergoing improvements, so learn what you need to know before you go at smud.org/CrystalBasin and fs.usda.gov/Eldorado/.
The following accomplishments are good news for visitors:
• The Crystal Basin Recreation Information Station is now open.
• 25,000 lbs. of rainbow trout will once again be planted at Loon Lake, Ice House and Union Valley Reservoirs in 2021.
• The Northshore Campground Improvements Project at Loon Lake was an almost complete rebuild, which included:
- The previous 15-unit recreational vehicle (RV) campground was upgraded and expanded to a mix of 26 RV, standard, and walk-in campsites.
- A new potable water system was added to the campground.
SMUD continues to have a significant presence in El Dorado County with about 85 employees based at its hydroelectric maintenance headquarters at Fresh Pond with a local payroll and local expenditures well over $15 million per year. About 200 SMUD employees call El Dorado County home, sending their kids to local schools, buying goods and services locally, and contributing to the county’s tax base.
Content retrieved from: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD940115.