When last I wrote (which has been too long, by the way) we were in a drought. At that time, we had received about 30 inches of rain on our property. Our average is 35 inches, so that really wasn't too bad. We weren't having any issues with our well and our vegetation was fine.
What a difference a year makes. We have now received slightly over 71 inches of rain on our property since the season began (7/1/16). Before we built Lucinda's we put a lot of thought and effort into ways to control and direct the water on our property. We have French drains, and culverts on each side of the property that direct the water to Perry Creek. Although the weather is warmer and the frequency of rain has decreased (it's not raining every day), the season is not over yet. We normally get a fair amount of rain during April and into May. A favorite saying in the Foothills is, "It is not Spring until it snows on the Dogwood blossoms." In fact, it is not unusual for it to rain ( or even snow) during one of the El Dorado Winery Association's Passport Weekends. Or, it could be sunny and warm. This year, Passport weekends are April 22 and 23 and 29 and 30.
While we are all very happy that our creeks and rivers are swollen, and our wells have been replenished, the wet weather has brought some problems. Most of the roads in El Dorado County have been impacted. The least damage is a few potholes. More seriously, there have been several sinkholes and culvert failures. Mt. Aukum Road (E16) between Bucks Bar and Pleasant Valley is closed because of a culvert failure and resulting sinkhole. The County has received a bid to repair the road and hopefully it will be open in the next month or so. Once that is fixed, there is another culvert failure on Bucks Bar, which may cause some delays when being repaired.
This is taken from the dining room window. In the lower right, just off the edge of the picture, is the opening to the culvert on the east side of the property.
Our trees and bushes are starting to bloom and we are looking forward to a good wildflower year. The grass is growing and the trees are starting to get their leaves. As I write this, Jose, our yard guy, is trimming the dead wood, cleaning up downed branches (future firewood), and looking for poison oak.
If you plan to visit the Foothills this Spring and Summer, particularly Fair Play, I think you will find our area particularly beautiful as a result of our rainy winer and spring. Enjoy the drive to our little village and enjoy your stay.
Hope to see you soon.
Lucinda
