June 20, 1973 (12 pages)

8 The Nevada County Nugget Wed., June 20,1973 NID system patrolled weekly THIS OPEN NID CANAL winds its way down the Bear River Valley from the Drum Power House near Highway 80 to the Chicago Park Power House northeast of Colfax. The helicopter is used to patrol the canal and spot debris that may have tumbled in, obstructing the flow of water.Riding in a helicopter is like sitting in a whirling carnival ride. Not the ferris wheel, more like the Octopus, where you twirl and spin in many directions, seemingly changing direction at will. The helicopter can also seem like a pleasant seat above the world that can move this way or that, explore one lake or a distant valley. A magic carpet, perhaps, is an apt analogy. The Nevada Irrigation District, in association with Pacific Gas and Electric, flies a helicopter over the open canals of the Yuba-Bear Project once a week. Every Thursday morning at 8:45 a three-seat chopper winds its way up.the Bear River Valley and lands near the Chicago Park Power House where Elmer Pretzer, project Manager, awaits its arrival. Ron Cone, the pilot, talks with Pretzer then takes his helicopter up and over the power station to the open canal that flows from the upper regions of the Bear. The flight, that takes Cone to the high regions of Jackson Meadows Reservior and French Lake, lasts about two hours and is the best way to-insure that nothing is obstructing the flow of water in the NID canals. In the r¢ past Cone has discovered trees and landslides that have blocked _ the water’s passage. He informs NID of the obstructions and work crews are dispatched to the scene, often carried there in Cone’s helicopter. On June 7 the snow was melted around Jackson Meadows and only spots lied in ‘the shade along the north side of French Lake. Fish surfaced in Fordyce dotting the lake in myriads of rings. At Fuller Lake, north of Lake Spaulding, Cone dropped his helicopter near the surface and circled the fishermen who trolled back ancd-forth. Soon the fisherman faded into the distance and were hidden behind a ridge as Blue Lake came into view, its washed waters reflecting the glint of spring sun. From there: the copter swung in a broad leftward arc, passed over RuckerLake, and traversed the wild country’ toward Bowman, following the.Bowian canal. Along the new concrete canal the ruins of the retired wooden flume system lay in disarray along the granite cliffs the victim of cold, avalanches, and time. Passing the Bowman House, an NID building built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp, Cone flew high over Bowman and settled down on the shores of Jackson Meadows Reservoir. After a rest of several minutes, spent walking the shoreline and talking to a lone fisherman, the copter again rose and passed French Lake, turned and passed the many small lakes on its way to Lake Spaulding, Spaulding dam was soon behind the copter’s paddle and Highway 80 came into view. Cone Swung low and traveled along over the west bound traffic until he landed at Emigrant Gap. Cone. explained that the rotor revolves at about 3,000 r.p.m. and that five controls are required to operate a helicopter. He received his training flying troop copters in Vietnam. Yuba Gap closures lifted The lane closures in effect at Yuba Gap at the junction of Interstate 80 and Route 20 about 40 miles east of Auburn have been lifted and traffic is again 4 given uninterrupted access to all ; four freeway lanes. y Day and night closures on a ! single lane have been in effect 24 ee — ~~ + HELICOPTER PILOT Ron Cone, on the left, and Ed Neuharth, NID Administrative Assistant, stand next to the three seat copter near the shore of Jackson Meadows Reservoir in the Grouse Ridge Lakes area northeast of Grass Vallev. hours a day for several weeks during the reconstruction of a bridge support. Contractor on the $17,000 project was Owens Construction of San Jose And resident — engineer for the state was Don Ohman: bf Sacramento 2: yhiahaneactiadinals iphi aetna emia ancien

8 The Nevada County Nugget Wed., June 20,1973 NID system patrolled weekly THIS OPEN NID CANAL winds its way down the Bear River Valley from the Drum Power House near Highway 80 to the Chicago Park Power House northeast of Colfax. The helicopter is used to patrol the canal and spot debris that may have tumbled in, obstructing the flow of water.Riding in a helicopter is like sitting in a whirling carnival ride. Not the ferris wheel, more like the Octopus, where you twirl and spin in many directions, seemingly changing direction at will. The helicopter can also seem like a pleasant seat above the world that can move this way or that, explore one lake or a distant valley. A magic carpet, perhaps, is an apt analogy. The Nevada Irrigation District, in association with Pacific Gas and Electric, flies a helicopter over the open canals of the Yuba-Bear Project once a week. Every Thursday morning at 8:45 a three-seat chopper winds its way up.the Bear River Valley and lands near the Chicago Park Power House where Elmer Pretzer, project Manager, awaits its arrival. Ron Cone, the pilot, talks with Pretzer then takes his helicopter up and over the power station to the open canal that flows from the upper regions of the Bear. The flight, that takes Cone to the high regions of Jackson Meadows Reservior and French Lake, lasts about two hours and is the best way to-insure that nothing is obstructing the flow of water in the NID canals. In the r¢ past Cone has discovered trees and landslides that have blocked _ the water’s passage. He informs NID of the obstructions and work crews are dispatched to the scene, often carried there in Cone’s helicopter. On June 7 the snow was melted around Jackson Meadows and only spots lied in ‘the shade along the north side of French Lake. Fish surfaced in Fordyce dotting the lake in myriads of rings. At Fuller Lake, north of Lake Spaulding, Cone dropped his helicopter near the surface and circled the fishermen who trolled back ancd-forth. Soon the fisherman faded into the distance and were hidden behind a ridge as Blue Lake came into view, its washed

waters reflecting the glint of spring sun. From there: the copter swung in a broad leftward arc, passed over RuckerLake, and traversed the wild country’ toward Bowman, following the.Bowian canal. Along the new concrete canal the ruins of the retired wooden flume system lay in disarray along the granite cliffs the victim of cold, avalanches, and time. Passing the Bowman House, an NID building built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp, Cone flew high over Bowman and settled down on the shores of Jackson Meadows Reservoir. After a rest of several minutes, spent walking the shoreline and talking to a lone fisherman, the copter again rose and passed French Lake, turned and passed the many small lakes on its way to Lake Spaulding, Spaulding dam was soon behind the copter’s paddle and Highway 80 came into view. Cone Swung low and traveled along over the west bound traffic until he landed at Emigrant Gap. Cone. explained that the rotor revolves at about 3,000 r.p.m. and that five controls are required to operate a helicopter. He received his training flying troop copters in Vietnam. Yuba Gap closures lifted The lane closures in effect at Yuba Gap at the junction of Interstate 80 and Route 20 about 40 miles east of Auburn have been lifted and traffic is again 4 given uninterrupted access to all ; four freeway lanes. y Day and night closures on a ! single lane have been in effect 24 ee — ~~ + HELICOPTER PILOT Ron Cone, on the left, and Ed Neuharth, NID Administrative Assistant, stand next to the three seat copter near the shore of Jackson Meadows Reservoir in the Grouse Ridge Lakes area northeast of Grass Vallev. hours a day for several weeks during the reconstruction of a bridge support. Contractor on the $17,000 project was Owens Construction of San Jose And resident — engineer for the state was Don Ohman: bf Sacramento 2: yhiahaneactiadinals iphi aetna emia ancien