Embedded Files
San Andreas Mutual Water Company (SAMWAC)
HISTORY OF IMPROVEMENTS, HIGHLIGHTS, and EVENTS OF 1952-2002 (50 years of operation)
1947-1948
A main water line of 8,500 ft. of 4 inch O.D. Army Invasive Pipe was laid in 1947-1948. At the heart of this line was a well 350 feet deep containing a submersible 15 HP pump, two steel tanks 11'D x 20’ high.
Prior to 1951
The names of: E. W. Bird; W. M. Reeves; Helen Frederickson; L. C. Metcalf; and Bertha L. Duffield appear on the 1951 Articles of Inc. so this historian makes the assumption that they were instrumental in deciding to form what is now known as San Andreas Mutual Water Company (SAMWAC) using the lines, well, and pump already in place on Duffield property (later purchased by John Brundage, Sr.)
From the start of SAMWAC, no household had a water meter. Every user paid an equal amount of the monthly expenses every two months. Early records show several collection letters were written as it seemed to be difficult to collect from some users.
1952
Mr. John Brundage, Sr. is a historical figure in the water company and well known to those who came into the SAMWAC District in the formative years. To many HE WAS the water company. To get a share you knocked on his door and you got one issued to you after being recorded in his
book according to his son John. He had just retired from the Forestry Service at age 60 and he and his wife bought the property now owned by the Carons on Palm View. Perhaps he fell into the job because the two water storage redwood tanks were then located on the north side of the property he bought and the well was below. A chlorinator was installed on the system at some point.
June 4, 1952--A decision was made to form a Mutual Water Company October 1952
June 21, 1952. The first minutes of new company were taken at 8 P.M., for San Andreas Mutual Water Company meeting.
First Board Members were:
E.W. Bird; N.M. Reeves, Helen Fredrickson, and Burton L. Duffield.
Water Charges per gallon in 1958-1960:
5,000 gallons or less/month/? $4.00
Over 5,000 to 20,000 gallons per 1,000 gallons $0.40
Over 20,000 gallons per 1000 gallons $0.50
Total Cost per Year $2,470.11
Under the New Water Company
First 1,500 cu.ft. (3) $3.25
Next 2,000 cu.ft. (2) 0.16 per 100 cu. ft.
Next 2,000 cu.ft. (2) 0.14 "
Next 5,000 cu.ft. (2) 0.13 "
Next 10,000 cu.ft. (2) 0.12 "
Over 20,000 cu.ft. (2) 0.11 "
1953
At a meeting Mr. Hibb was added to the Board of Directors
June 4, 1954--Annual Shareholders Meeting held.
New Directors were elected.
Mr. Brundage was in charge of maintaining the water pump system.
Mr. Duffield maintained the rest of the water system.
July 20, 1954--Officers were voted in as follows:
Mr. Reeves, President
Mr. Avery, Vice President
Mr. Bird, Sec.Treas
Mrs. Fredrickson
Mr. Duffield (Mr. Brundage, Alternate)
1954
John Nucktund grew irises and other outdoor plants along SeaView Terrace across from the Caserza property. Strawberry and raspberry fields were also in the water district as well as pastures.
August 2, 1955 Annual Shareholders Meeting
Election of Board and present officers were elected.
It was agreed that SAMWAC was not in a position to provide water for commercial users (in accordance to Articles of Incorporation). Mr. Duffield and Mr. Brundage maintained the water and systems.
May 7, 1956
For the first time the Health Department required water sampling. The system met U.S., and PUC Health Standards at time of sampling.
July 2, 1956
It was decided the tanks were to be moved to SAMWAC property where they remain as of this writing at year's end 2002. Making the decision were: John Caserza, Gilbert Webb, Duffield, Bird and Reeves.
August 1, 1956
A Board Member, W.L. Avery moved out of the area and gave back his water share.
August 2, 1956
Annual Shareholders Meeting
Election of Board Members and Officers
The Board Members were:
Mr. Duffield
Mrs. Fredrickson
Mr. Bird
Mr. Reeves
Gilbert Webb took the place of Avery.
Mr. Duffield was System Manager.
August 22, 1957
Aware the issue of Share Permit would expire and Board made decision to reapply.
July 2, 1958
Made application for new permit to continue to issue shares.
July 1, 1958
New rate set at $13 bimonthly from $6.50 bimonthly previously.
August 5, 1958 Annual Shareholders Meeting
Mr. Brundage and Mr. Duffield were asked to continue maintaining the water system. The same directors and officers were elected. 4”x4"x8’ markers were placed along pipe line route to prevent damage to pipes.
Jan. 27, 1960
Filed Exemption Form 1026; papers to IRS and Calif. Franchise Board. Monthly rate changed to $5/month. An Assessment for Capitol Improvements was voted starting at $75. to $150. This was needed as questionable whether the present system could furnish 20,000 gallons per day.
August 10, 1960 Annual Shareholders Meeting
The same Board Members and Officers were elected:
Reeves, President; Bird, Sec./Treas.; Duffield, Fredrickson, and Webb.
A committee was formed to discuss methods of getting the water membership/share holders to participate in operating the water system.
1965
John Hoppe was elected to the Board and also serving were:
John Brundage, Sr.; Mr. Duffield; Mr. Magsaayo.
The new Board Member noticed that there was higher usage in the summer; therefore higher bills. He also noticed that certain households only had house gardens and lawns. Whereas some five acre parcels had green pastures for their livestock and some farms had raspberry and strawberry crops. The Board accepted his suggestion that water meters be installed and thereafter each shareholder paid a flat fee per bill plus an additional amount for water used. As part of the history it can be noted that there was a great deal of discussion over this change and
some of it loud. Only one scuffle was known about and an old timer said the cops weren't needed as "They handled it." At this time several quit the company and dug their own wells.
October 4, 1967 Those in charge attempted to sell the Mutual Water Company.
Nov. 17, 1967 An attorney reviewed paperwork for sale of Mutual Water Company. Although a Mutual Water Company may be dissolved, the water supply and distribution system remains; i.e. no transfer of the water supply and distribution system can be done and any purchaser must continue to supply water. To do so requires Shareholders approval by majority. There were several interested parties but they wanted SAMWAC for nothing.
1970s
Harvey Voth, President
Brad Smith (was President sometime in 60s or 70s)
Jasper Ayers
Board made a replacement of the main line, standardized and located meters, and mapped the system. Steve Wilson took water samples to the Health Dept. and it was deemed that the chlorinator could be shut off and chlorination done only when tests showed it was needed. Second well was drilled and pipes laid. Each Shareholder was assessed $200 for upgrading and payments structered according to Bylaws and Articles of Inc. as was a non profit group so paid no taxes at that time.
1972
Serving on Board:
John Brundage, Sr., Steve Dautoff, Elder Bunker, Marshall Sachs
1975 or 76
Harvey Voth, President
Marshall Sachs
Steve Wilson
Elder Bunker
Mr. Merino
Mr. Wheeler
John Brundage, Sr.
Accomplished at this time: replacement of mains, standardization and location of meters, and mapping of system.
1977
Steve Wilson, President
Marshall Sachs
Harvey Voth
Wheeler
Instructor from MBA
Second well went in. Pipes went in. Assessed each Shareholder $200 for upgrading. Structured payments according to Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation as were a non-profit organization so no taxes paid. Stopped chlorination from Brundages Chlorinator. Steve Wilson took a sample
to Health Department showing that no cholorform found in samples so insisted routine chlorination be done only when necessary and Health Department agreed.
1979
Mr. Mac McPhearson, President (for 5 years)
The cost of water certificate at that time was $125.
Chuck Street, President
1980s
Somewhere in this time frame Well #2 was dug.
Dave Smith was the first paid employee of SAMWAC during this time and worked for 2 years on projects. Glen DeWitt personally mapped the location of valves. These locations were marked with the blue numbered posts still in place as of this writing. Six inch lines were laid from pump to Zetta (now Ocean Mist). Three hydrants were added down Zils; and earthquake repair done to lines where broke at tank. The tanks creased a little at bottom and that was the only damage to the system from the earthquake.
1983 or 84
Rob Hartzell, Water Quality
Chuck Street, President
Leslie Todd (dealt with PVWMA)
Harvey Voth
Joe Williams Billie and Bruce Simpson
John Brundage, Jr.
1986
Chuck Street
Harvey Voth
1990s
Harvey Voth, President
Bruce Simpson, Vice President
Glen DeWitt, Quality Control
Chuck Street, Treasurer
Joe Williams; Bill Traber (helped with water sampling)
Rebuilt old shed, covered over the generator, upgraded meters, added fire hydrants, put in a new line on Zils, and Joe Williams computerized maps done earlier by Glen DeWitt. Also a study of history of water rates was done and a formula worked out which was used when Billie Simpson did the billing.
1992
Harvey Voth, President
Bruce Simpson, Vice Pres.
Glen DeWitt, Quality Control
Chuck Street, Treasurer
1993
Harvey Voth, President
Charles Street (Treasurer and Acting Manager)
Glen De Witt
Bill Traber Quality Control
Gary Eggers
Bruce Simpson
Ken Barroga took over after Joe Williams
Joe Williams
Robin Stockwell
1994
Glen DeWitt, President
Joe Williams, Vice President
Meharry, Treasurer
Robin Stockwell, Secretary
Bill Traber, Water Quality
Mike Graham was the first person to prepare the Newsleak after Board asked for volunteers in putting out three newsletters a year.
Hired Dave Smith for Maintenance and Meter Reader.
Of note was wild pigs as a topic on an agenda in 1994.
1995
Ken Barroga
Robin Stockwell
John Brundage, Jr., Secretary
Joe Williams
Jaki Christeve
Bill Traber, Quality Control
?Sherry Jackson served when?
?Well permit acquired from County
2001 Robin Stockwell, President
Tim Folger, Vice President
Harriette McClusky, Secretary
Jaki Christeve, NewsLetter Editor
Lyle Hamilton,
Bill Traber, Quality Control (resigned after serving 9 years 1992-2001)
2002
Skip Fehr, President
Dwight Lynn, Vice President
Owen Sharp, Secretary-Treasurer
Annette Avila
Sandra Hoppe
It was pointed out that a great many Shareholders have given of their time and helped the water company over the years who have never received recognition nor are known to us at this writing. But their contributions are greatly appreciated and so noted.
Also pointed out is the observation that operating SAMWC before 1985 was a low key volunteer job without many governmental regulations, paperwork required, and increased volume of responsibility due to size of water company at the present time. This company has perservered and still provides good water to its users.
2002-2014 SAMWAC HISTORY CONTINUED FROM FIRST 50 YEAR HISTORY REPORT (The first 50 years of SAMWAC
The SAMWAC area covers 750 acres which was even larger before property was sold by the owner to the State of California to form Manresa Uplands State Park. Before the State became interested, the owner had several lots right on the cliff edge for sale. Meetings were held by the State with SAMWAC residents to discuss their plans for the use of the land. At first the State wanted to put in “temporary” motor home camping and when asked by Steve Wilson how long temporary would be he was told 20 years. He responded “That is my lifetime.” The several meetings with SAMWAC residents resulted in the State agreeing to make it a walk-in tent camping park.
Before SAMWAC was formed, water was supplied for government housing on north side of Zils during National Guard Training Camp years which later became Camp McQauide years. More work was done in 1947-48 when a main water line of 8,500 ft. of 4 inch outside diameter Army Invasive Pipe was laid. At the heart of this line was a well 350 feet deep containing a submersible 15 HP pump, two steel tanks always rotting/rusting away. The pipes used from the government were designed for use above ground but early users laid the inferior pipes below ground and they were always rotting away. The standard for pipes is 4 inch inside diameter but these Army pipes were 4 inch outside diameter so finding fittings was always a big problem I found in early paperwork
The southern boundary of SAMWAC area is Zils Road named after the Joe Zils family in the 1920s who owned a large amount of the land around us which was from MBA to past Sand Dollar. At that time the property may have been known as Rancho San Andreas as that name appears in the records. In the 40s Joe Zils sold all to Burton and Bertha Lily Duffield and the property became known as Duffield Acres. One of the driveways to the home of the Duffield’s was called Duffield Road and later became Palm View Lane.
When Duffield bought the property it came complete with lines, well, and pump put in place before, from the government surplus materials described above. So Duffield started supplying water to neighbors in the 40s. Mr. Duffield was the one who worked to keep the water flowing. He purchased water meters but they were never installed until 1965 so water was billed the same to everyone. In 1951-52 it was decided to form a water company with the founders as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Duffield, E. W. Bird, W. M. Reeves, Helen Frederickson, L. C. Metcalf, and Elmer Fisher. It was Bertha Duffield who helped form the water company and served on the first Board for at least 10 years as did Helen Frederickson. Mr. Duffield worked to keep the water flowing.
Names of the area roads off Zils and Crest developed over the years as new homes were added. They were dirt roads until the owners along the road got together to upgrade/pave and then continue to maintain their road. Originally a dirt road at the end of Lily Way connected around to Crest but was closed off to SAMWAC users when the land was bought by the State for Manresa Uplands Park Camp Ground. At first the State did nothing to block off their property at the end of Lily way so Bob Wisdom of MBA, Grounds Superintendent, found a gate in their inventory and helped Steve Wilson and Marshal Sachs put up the gate. Eventually the State did put up the current gate with a lock. The State originally
planned to use Zils and Lily Way as the entry to Manresa Uplands. Jaki Christeve was instrumental in work with the State and others to get the plans changed for entry on Seascape off San Andreas.
On the State property, small oak trees were planted above the Eucalyptus canyon by Girl Scouts and look at the size of them now. Les Todd, a Lindero resident, was the one asked to plan the landscaping of native plants for the park. He was a retired San Joaquin County Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner and had a long horticulturist history with California Native Plants. He proposed a selection of native plants and locations for the planting. Once the plans were approved by Park Headquarters he worked with prison inmates to do the final planting. You can see when you stroll through the Park that his choices have matured.
1. Zils was a potholed dirt road off San Andreas Road until the late 1950s-60s on the southerly boundary of Monterey Bay Academy property and the SAMWAC area. It is named after the Joe Zils family (the first date found for the name Zils in the Watsonville Historical records was 1908) After 1960 Roy Sakae and Burton Duffield made arrangements with the county to have Zils paved and become County responsibility. . The County took ownership of Zils and brought it up to road standards and did the paving. It was paid for by those owning frontage or buying on Zils through assessments over the years.
The rest of the roads in the area were also dirt and pot holed and were probably created as needed and might have been driveways to just one house until lots were sold around this house. One such driveway was called Duffield for the second large owner of land in the area after Zils. Both Zils and Duffield had roads named after them. Some names changed from what they were originally because the first fire district that served this area was out of Corralitos and they needed an accurate map to respond to fire calls and therefore some roads were renamed perhaps to avoid duplication in their district. All the dirt roads in the area were upgraded but this historian does not have the specifics as to dates and who took charge except for Lily Way.
1.The first road to the right coming down Zils is now Ocean Mist but was first called Zetta. A woman named Zetta Brown owned 4 acres at the top of Zils and at first her driveway was called Zetta. She sold to Ruth Land and the acreage was divided into 4 lots.
2. Palm View Lane is the second road to the right coming down Zils and was originally called Duffield Lane and later Flora Vista. The probable reason for the current name was several Palm trees grow along that road.
3. Lily Way—Two stories of the origin of the name are: There was a Lily bulb nursery on the dirt road hence it was called Lily Way. The other possible origin of the name is a long time owner of the whole acreage was named Burton Duffield and his wife’s name was Bertha Lily hence the road was named for her middle name.
Before 1996 Lily Way was a dirt road with huge pot holes that filled in during the years of rain. Mas Tashibana was a good neighbor and often ran his tractor to scrape the road to smooth it out all the length of the road even though he didn’t use much of the road to get to
his home and nursery. Steve Wilson in 1996 formed a Road Association for Lily Way and all came together to pay the cost of paving according to the distance each owner traveled on the road. Betz Paving did the first paving with his son, then 15, helping. This son Dennis Betz now lives on Zils.
4. Crest comes off San Andreas to the north of Zils into the SAMWAC area. Crest is a private road and is maintained by the users along the road. Five years back the users paid for a major overhaul to grade and pave. It is said the condition was so bad that one resident towed his car with his pickup out to San Andreas.
5. Crest Lane is a short road on the south side of Crest.
6. Seaview Terrac e branches off Crest to the north.
7. Lindero Drive is a short road off Crest going East.
Early 1929 Map Shows Land Ownership --Watsonville Historical Society
Charles M. Zills (Historical society has Zils ending with two Ls) et al owned 362.5 acres shown on the 1929 map at the Historical Society. Somewhere in the records a date of 1908 comes up for Zils.
Mary A. Leonard owned 100 acres. Morse Taes owned 260 acres. Fred M. Burnside owned 36 acres. Mrytle , Harold, Leroy B. Thomas owned 72 aces. Frank T. Blake owned 257 acres.
CAMP McQUAIDE --Our Former Neighbor on the other side of Zils
The Watsonville Historical Society has information that the Ives farm of 407 ocean front acres was 6 miles from Watsonville and was sold to the US Government around 1938 for the formation of Camp McQuaide by the US Government.
Camp McQaide was first situated in Capitola in 1926. In 1938, the Camp was moved to land purchased and dedicated from the Ives family consisting of 400 acres . The McQuaide name comes from the memory of Major Joseph P. McQuaide, Chaplain of the 250th for many years. It took until 9/17/1940 to open the military and re-training camp. Camp McQuaide operated for 9 years until 1947.
In 1948, Camp McQuaide was considered for a local junior college, but lacked countywide support. The price was $1 an acre, but some considered the site too far out of town, to windy, and too foggy. And the roads at the time and traffic problems to come from a large school were a factor as well.
MONTEREY BAY ACADEMY
A Pajaro Register article in 6/28/1948 stated “learned Monday that arrangements by War Assets Administration to give the property to the church organization were virtually complete. Transfer of title is expected sometime in July (1948), after the deal is approved by WAA in Washington. The government
will make a virtual gift of the 300 acre camp site to the Central California Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist.” Camp McQuaide became now known as the Monterey Bay Academy (MBA).
In 1948 the final approval was given to turning over the 300 acre army camp to MBA. The historical documents from the Watsonville Historical Society have a 75 page inventory list of Camp McQuaide supplies, equipment, classrooms, shops, airport and more that was left for MBA by the government. In 1949 classes at the boarding high school started .
Of interest and appreciation of the San Andreas Mutual Water Company residents is the help and cooperation given to our company in the form of support and supplies over the years of our association. It is our understanding the early expansion happened from the leftover pipes left by the government and given to SAMWAC . One personal example is when the Manresa Uplands Park was established there was no fencing or gate put at the end of Lily Way. Lily Way became easy and free access to the campground until Bob Wheeler of MBA, Supervisor of the Grounds, gave Marshall Sachs and Steve Wilson the gate that is still currently in place and Mr. Wheeler helped the two residents install the gate.
SAMWAC is indebted to MBA for the use of their Cafeteria for our annual meeting for some years as another example of their generosity and help to SAMWAC. The strip along Zils Road on their side is neatly maintained and very much appreciated by those of us traveling along Zils.
VOLUNTEER AND PAID EMPLOYEES OF SAMWAC OVER THE YEARS
In the 1940s to 1952 Duffield was the first volunteer by default it is assumed as he was the big owner of property and had the access to the water so he also maintained the water system.
1952-1984 Marsden Brundage volunteered for 32 years to well past his 80th birthday. At age 60, he had just retired from the Forestry Service and moved to this area and found the water tank was on his property so perhaps that is how he fell into being “The Water Company “ as he was known. Talking to old timers of SAMWAC you can hear some wonderful stories about Marsden. The old man climbed a ladder to top of tank every day to check quality of water. He would go out a repair leaks. From the meter figures, he did the calculations of the bill, and then the bookkeeper did the billing.
1984-1992 ???
1992 Dave Smith was a paid employee for maintenance. During this time THE SHED was built. Joe said, “Meters were put any old place so the meter reader had to go into backyards, and clear weeds so he could get to meter box.” Dave said credit should be given to Chuck Street who played an important role in improving our water system under his planning and leadership. That should probably be said of all those willing to serve on the Board and doing all they could to keep our water flowing.
1992-2001 Joe Williams read meters with income of $1 per meter read. Joe verified that Coast Pipeline under Loren Brown was invaluable help in teaching SAMWAC how to lay pipe underground, the correct placement of valves, etc.
1978-1990 Billie Simpson was added to the Board as Manager to handle finances, to issue shares, and given other responsibilities with a salary. Charlie Larson was Meter Reader. Under Billie’s leadership, the first manual for Control Center was written. It was needed so all in responsible positions would know how to handle unusual situations such as the 1989 earthquake. She wrote a Maintenance Schedule plus many other duties such as answering to the Health Dept., etc.
April 1978 for a year or two Jim Wilson was hired for maintenance for $7.50 an hour. 1980- 1988 Barbara Salinas worked for 8 years for SAMWAC reading meters.
2004 to 2009 Ralph Bracamonte was a paid contractor in charge of maintenance. Radio Read Meters came into use about this time.
2009 to present Jeremy Montes is in charge of maintenance. 2009 to present Owen Sharp is paid as meter reader and keeper of the financial records.
SAMWAC SHARES
The By-Laws of SAMWAC allows 200 hookups and 135 have been issued at the time of this writing in April 2014. But the Share Book Log shows 300 shares issued for the common reason of owners not being able to find their share at time of sale of property. So a new number is assigned hence the book shows 300 at this writing when only 200 can be assigned.
Stated in Volume VI, Number 2, of the first newsletter called the News Leak is this statement. “What’s In A Name? Your San Andreas Mutual Water Company or SAMWAC is not the same as a private water company. Rather it is a “cooperative system among a group of property owners.” “The shares in the mutual company go with the lots within the system, and may not be sold separately from the land or further divided.”
November 24, 1952 was the first time shares could be issued as a stock book and seal had been secured. At this time the By-Laws were also recorded. The flat monthly water rate to all users was $3.25 and water meters were not installed until 1965, 13 years later from the start of SAMWAC.
Share #1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 13, 15, 70, 71 were issued to W.A. Duffield and Bertha Lily Duffield on 11/24/1952 for Lot 1. Later they turned in all but their 1 share.
Share # 5 was issued to Joe Zils.
Share 62 was issued to Marsdon R. Brundage on 11/24/1952
8/6/1953 Roy Sakae was issued a share but the number was not recorded.
1953 there were 64 shares issued. By 1955 there were over 82 shares issued.
Wanting a SAMWAC Share, in June 1981 a Park Ranger came to a Board meeting and gave an overview of Manresa Uplands plan for 65 campsites and 2 shower/restrooms. He asked about getting water from SAMWAC and was told the Board would have to make a Bylaw change to do so. This was never done. Instead, Manresa Uplands gets their water from Soquel Creek Water Company with hookup at San Dollar.
News to Shareholders
1981: Chuck Street, while President, suggested a newsletter be written and sent to users. The first name of this publication was the “News Leak” but sometime around 2001 the name was changed to “In The Flow” and Jaki Christeve published an unnamed newsletter under Volume 1-No. 1 and published that a prize would be awarded for the person coming up with the best name. Willard Davis came up with the name “In The Flow” and won. The big issue at this time was the annexation of SAMWAC to Soquel Creek Water District. A vote of SAMWAC members was overwhelmingly against annexation and a proposed $20,000 charge to each member to upgrade the pipe size to specs of Soquel Creek never happened. In 1981, the other issue was that the area had only one well serving 135 customers and the Board went ahead to authorize a new well.
Officers serving SAMWAC since 50 year report
Board 1/17/2000: President Skip Fehr; VP Dwight Lynn; Sec/Teas Owen Sharp; Sandra Hoppe; Jaki Christeve
Board 2002 Annette Avilla replaced Jaki Christeve and served along with Skip Fehr; Dwight Lynn; Owen Sharp; and Sandra Hoppe .
Board 2004 Ann Stemler took Annette Avilla place: still serving were Skip Fehr; Dwight Lynn, Owen Sharp, and Sandra Hoppe
How Times Have Changed
At the 1953 annual water meeting (yes, they started way back in 1953), a general discussion took place regarding how much water use was allowable.
ANSWER: “Up to 5 cows, household use, flowers and small garden.”
At a 1965 Board meeting, John Hoppe noticed some households only had house gardens and lawns whereas others had 5 acre parcels in green pastures for livestock and others had farms with raspberries and strawberries. At this meeting installing water meters was passed and a flat fee was charged plus a charge for additional amount used.
In 2009 SAMWAC set up a Disaster Plan for “during and after a natural or man made disaster to insure the preservation of an adequate supply of potable water for emergency and domestic use.”
2012 “completed Fire Hydrant agreement with Aptos/La Selva Beach Fire Department and responded to State Law on installing back flow devices.”
2013 “Served excellent water to users, accomplished required maintenance, and upgraded system and added back flow devices.”
In 2014 the concerns for the SAMWAC Board are very serious such as chromium 6 regulations; 25 year issues with PVWMA; and keeping good water flowing. The Board also deals with more mundane problems, but none the less important such as the annoying issues of those little neighbors called gophers that chew wires and disconnect service and for probably out of boredom fill up meter boxes with sand. And have you noticed thistles beginning to invade our area and gardens? OUCH!
It was pointed out by one advisor to this author of the last 12 year update to SAMWAC history that credit should be given to many residents in this area who contributed greatly to SAMWAC over the years from 1952 when SAMWAC was formed and are either not known to us anymore or are not mentioned in the old paperwork. We who are turning on our water faucets should be and are thankful we have good water and appreciate all the history and the many accomplishments of those who either volunteered or were paid to bring us to this point. THANK YOU ALL.
RESEARCH SOURCES
1. The SAMWAC Web Site is 13 years old and available at:
http://www.wwwebdirect.com/samwac/index.html
2. The Coastal Commission office is at 425 Front Street, Santa Cruz (phone: 727-4863) and has photos going back in time up to the present of homes along the coast. Call 427-4863 to find out the Web Site and other links available to do your research. They have a mapping department.
3. UCSC Library Archives (phone: 459-0111, Information Ex. 94000) has coast photos from 1920 to present.
4. Santa Cruz County ha a Web Site. Instructions I haven’t tried are to: Go to Public Works, then to Surveyor Desk for GIS (Geographic Information Service) and a map should come up. A tab at the top can be pulled down and you pick an address. Look on the side and choose Assessors Office and type in the address. A cursor on the bottom gives you the option of printing out your information.
5. You can buy a historic plaque for your home if it is 50 years or older and research is done to prove that is so. Research an be done by you or a paid researcher going through the Santa Cruz County Assessors and Records offices. When approved, a $200 blue plaque can be bought by you and posted on your home.
6. Santa Cruz Public Library has county history and a photo gallery and more. The Department Director’s number is (427-7706 Ex. 7612)
7. Santa Cruz Art and History (429-1964 Ex. 7018)
8. Santa Cruz Museum (420-6115)
9. Monterey Bay Academy history: www.Montereybayacademy.org/first 60.html 10. Pajaro Valley Arts Council and Gallery, 37 Sudden, Watsonville (722-3062) 11. Pajaro Valley Historical Association, 332 E. Beach, Watsonville (72200305) 12. Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main Street, Watsonville (768-3400) 13. Google—Manresa Uplands State Park
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