FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: July 13, 2004

Contact: Jon Morgan, Director of Environmental Management, (530) 621-5300

Board of Supervisors Declares a State of Local Emergency


PLACERVILLE û The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution today declaring that a State of Local Emergency exists in association with the use of the Spider Lake û Little Sluice Area adjacent to the Rubicon Trail, a popular recreational trail located in the upper Sierra Nevada within El Dorado County.

A significant amount of human fecal waste has been deposited within this area creating a health and safety threat to the users of the Rubicon Trail, and a health
and safety threat to adjacent lakes and streams, which in turn flow into the American River Watershed. The unsanitary conditions of this area of the Rubicon Trail have resulted in the degradation of an environmentally sensitive area. Effective today the Spider Lake û Little Sluice Area will be closed for recreational use for 120 days. The closure will not affect the use of the Rubicon Trail as a thoroughfare.