OAKHURST–Happy 85th Anniversary to Walt Bannon Drilling. In today’s world, business longevity often means 20 years. Eighty years is unheard-of. But 85? Unbelievable. But that’s what Walt Bannon Drilling celebrates this month. Not only that, but it’s a family-owned and operated business that traces its lineage back three generations. Owner Chris Duncanson is the grandson of Walt Bannon and the son ...

NORTH FORK — A plan to build a new water treatment facility to service the North Fork area continues to flow forward. “We’ve been making pretty good progress,” says Ray Gutierrez, an engineer in Madera County’s Public Works Department, which is overseeing the project known as the North Fork Consolidation Plan. A joint venture between the Chawanakee Unified School District ...

By Brian David —  California’s Mediterranean climate of short, wet winters and long, dry summers sustains more diverse foliage than any other of the 49 states. For California’s commercial agriculture and home gardening, however, capturing water is crucial. We channel surface runoff from watersheds, diverting water into reservoirs and dams and direct the flow and delivery of water through aqueducts ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — In case you weren’t able to purchase and install new water-saving appliances in time for the July 2018 rebate deadline, there is good news, say folks at the local conservation district. The grant funding the Countywide Water Efficiency Rebates has been extended for one year through July 2019. All Mariposa County residents and all customers of Lake ...

MARIPOSA – The Lake Don Pedro Community Services District (LDPCSD) has awarded a contract to the Mariposa County Resource Conservation District (RCD) in the amount of $175,260,  to implement a countywide water efficiency education and rebate program. Lake Don Pedro CSD was awarded a $1,001,547 grant from the Department of Water Resources to achieve several goals, including replacement of leaky ...

OAKHURST — Hillview Water customers are being asked to conserve water this morning and to be prepared for discoloration and the possibility of running low, after Manager James Foster announced there is a significant leak in the Oakhurst area and the location is undetermined at this time. According to the company, Hillview’s on-call service technician received a call early this morning about a low level ...

COARSEGOLD — For nearly a month now, one local man has been concerned about conditions in Coarsegold Creek. Knowing that heavy rains this winter and spring may have caused some septic systems to be overwhelmed, he wants to spread the word that the creek may be contaminated, and people nearby may want to check their septic systems and possibly avoid the creek ...

OAKHURST — Hillview Water Company (HWC) recently announced awarding a $2 million contract to Hobbs Construction, of Fresno, to build the Sierra Lakes uranium, arsenic, iron, and manganese water treatment plant. The existing tanks on Road 426 at the current Sierra Lakes facility will be removed and replaced by an all-new facility. “We are pleased to have Hobbs Construction as our ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — Due to the recent flooding events in California there is the likelihood that some private household water wells may be damaged or contaminated. Pumps and electrical components can be damaged from floodwaters, silt and debris, posing electrical safety hazards. Contamination of your drinking water during flooding events is a significant health threat. Water from a flooded well should not ...

UPDATE Friday, Jan. 20 from Madera County Health Department’s Dexter Marr: “Oak Creek is still under the Boil Notice Order and no food preparation is allowed. The water system is under chlorination to prevent any possible contamination to the public. The water system is required to perform additional testing and we are waiting for results.” OAKHURST — Families associated with ...