Ahhh, LAKEDONPEDRO.ORG 

Feb 27 2016.  Those of you who have followed this site understand this is the second LAKDONPEDRO.ORG following the sudden collapse of AHRC (American Homeowners Resource Center) about five years ago.  That was some website!  It had satellite organizations represented in all fifty states and had made some real changes in protecting unaware owners from some of the pitfalls in home/property associations.   AHRC was a massive information resource and provided a forum for HOME and PROPERTY Owners to discuss the positive and negative aspects of owning property in a CID (Community Interest Development) which is, of course, traditionally maintained and controlled by a HOMEOWNERS or PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION.

When I first became involved in our “Association business” I read everything I could about how such organizations were intended to function and the amount of actual owner involvement and authority.  Naturally, as far as day to day operations this will vary significantly depending upon whether you live in a forty unit condo in an urban area, or have an acre or so in a rural setting like LAKE DON PEDRO with 3,127 +/- other property neighbors in these beautiful rolling Oak studded Sierra Nevada foothills.

I was rather surprised to discover how many folks, who actually represented this community as elected/appointed directors, did not understand, appreciate, or even care about the subtle differences between the types of associations.  Over and over I heard speeches and read articles by these folks who continually referred to Lake Don Pedro as a “HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION”.  This does not instill confidence when a “director” does not have a firm grasp of what they actually represent.  (sigh)

Whether Homeowner or Property Owner, the California Civil Code, Davis-Sterling Act, is the place to begin if interested in understanding these often enormous operations.

Don’t know about you, but I prefer the howls of a Coyote pack and the “hooting” of Owls at night to that of excessive traffic noise and screaming sirens, but like everything else, there are the downsides like the lack of traditional services (or variety) available in more populated areas.  I would hope if you’re living up here it is because you feel the same about this environment that can often be quite harsh and potentially dangerous if you are not alert and aware of your surroundings.  What’s the difference?  If you don’t pay attention in the city and step into traffic at an intersection – POW! Hit by a vehicle.  If you’re out hiking in the foothills and step over a rock instead of on top of it – POW!  Hit with a Rattlesnake bite.  Both situations can ruin your day or perhaps end your life.  I believe the term is “SITUATIONAL AWARENESS” and it should ALWAYS be active.

ANYWAY, I am currently in the process of re-inserting photographs, documents, and video clips that were wiped out in the “cyber-attack” last November.  Still do not understand all the intricacies of the incident but know it cost me money and time which are two things I’d prefer not to waste at my tender age.   I still like the opening page photo so it will remain the same for now.

HOME PAGE PHOTO:Lake McClure looking towards the San Joaquin Valley from Bear Valley Road in Mariposa County.  A portion of the Lake Don Pedro subdivision is in the background.   REPLACED WITH A PHOTO SLIDE SHOW OF LAKE Mc CLURE PLUS OTHER IMAGES.  Perhaps a bit peculiar, I mean displaying an image of Lake McClure when the subdivision is actually named Lake Don Pedro, but it makes sense when you consider this is from where our Lake Don Pedro Community Services District (LDPCSD) pumps Merced River Water for treatment, storage and distribution.

Check out the poster below furnished by the Merced Irrigation District (MID) depicting the Merced River’s birth from Merced Lake in Yosemite National Park and its journey westward towards the ocean.  Joined by both the South Fork (northeast of Briceburg) and the North Fork (east of Bagby) it continues down through mountain canyons ultimately creating our beautiful Lake McClure thanks to the New Exchequer Dam.

[Due to the drought, the original Exchequer dam has been “out of the water” for quite some time and is a fantastic representation of the old fashioned concrete arch architecture used at the time: THE DROUGHT AT LAKE McCLURE    I recall a Lake McClure boat tour with some local and state representatives conducted by MID managers when I commented someone somewhere should arrange to have a movie shot on site at Old Exchequer while still out of the water.  A magnificent piece of work that normally we hope to not see.]

Merced River water continues to flow down from the New Exchequer Dam into Lake McSwain, courtesy of the McSwain Dam just outside Snelling, CA.  It then follows a course through Merced County while creating approximately 793 miles of irrigation system.  After it joins the San Joaquin it continues on to the Bay Delta where it mixes with salt water from the Pacific Ocean creating a wildlife salt marsh environment alien to the high mountain watershed from which the river was born.   Absolutely amazing.

08172011/Video clips: Shot some (unfortunately poor quality) video of Lake McClure, McClure Dam/spillway, Lake McSwain, McSwain Dam, Hornitos Road Bridge and Merced River, Merced Falls “River’s Edge Fishing Access”, Henderson Park (Snelling), and Snelling Road Bridge.   Thought it might compliment the MID poster of the Merced River’s travel from Yosemite National Park to Lake McClure and eventually “beneficial uses” throughout the area.

08182011: Added some video clips of the Merced River as it leaves Yosemite National Park in it’s journey to Lake McClure.  Poor quality video but I think most will “Go with the Flow” about what I am trying to illustrate.

YES YES YES….poor quality video but what the heck, you use what you have at the time.  This entire website is a WORK IN PROGRESS.  I hope to make it back up there one day with the new camera.

My best to you and yours, Lew