Nevada County Life

Towards the end of 2010 a number of large steel columns were added to the playground in Memorial Park, and then solar sails were stretched between them, helping to shade the children, and keep the playground equipment cool.

Although they were taken away for the winter (a smart move considering how much snow we received here in Grass Valley), the City of Grass Valley confirms that they’ll be returning as soon as they can schedule the work.

NOAA have been warning about the warm temperatures melting the snow leading to increased run off, swollen rivers, and cold water temperatures.

On Saturday the South Yuba river at Bridgeport was definitely deeper, faster and colder than is normal at this time of year.

South Yuba River at Bridgeport

Although the air temperature was warm only a few hardy souls braved the icy waters, and those that did soon returned to the limited beach area.

As part of the Magenta Drain clean up project the Empire Mine State Park is constructing a Passive Water Treatment System to remove the pollutants from Magenta Drain.

Instead of constructing a regular water treatment facility with buildings and holding tanks this passive system will be a series of ponds and wetlands that will remove the metals and contaminants from the water.

The polluted water from Magenta Drain will be extracted from the water course, be pumped up to the wetlands, flow through the facility, and then be returned to the water course just below the extraction point.

At the current time the construction site is an unwelcome addition to what is usually a pleasant drive through the Empire Mine State Park, but the end result should be worth it. It’ll also be nice to remove the polluted water that currently flows through Memorial Park in Grass Valley.