Page 8 - TalesoftheParadiseRidge-Fall2020_Neat

PG&E struggled for many years trying to maintain the
aged canal, attempting to reach a balance between the
value of the water, its commitment to contracted users,
and the cost of ongoing maintenance and repairs. Besides
needing repair and replacement of the viaducts as they
deteriorated, the flume was often damaged by natural
erosion, leaks, and vandals. Local folklore is filled with
tales of youths rolling boulders down the hillside into
the ditch, miners blasting holes to flood their claims with
fresh gravel, and vandals opening penstock valves, allow-
ing water to escape into the river. The Camp Fire appar-
ently has provided the company with the final solution,
as evidenced by a letter sent in May 2019 to water
customers along the canal. The second paragraph starts
with, “After substantial consideration, PG&E has decided
not to rebuild the Canal” (Miocene Canal Coalition
FaceBook page, May 23, 2019). Photo by Doug Youngdahl.
Chris and Ronda Hoffman are longtime Paradise residents
The Miocene Canal that skirts the eastern edge of Para- who enjoyed many hikes along the canal and family outings
dise has become an icon in the history of the Ridge. It has to the various swimming holes. Ronda was a member of the
been well used, well loved, and its history has been well Mountain View Hikers, a group of intrepid women who strove
documented, but it faces a very uncertain future. Sadly, it to hike the section of the flume below Stark Lane to Dean Road
may be destined to become just history. twice weekly. During his youthful summer days, Chris partici-
pated in all of the daring activities the flume provided and man-
aged to survive with only a couple of scars. Chris and Ronda
have moved to Washington State.
Chris can be reached at “chrshffmn8@gmail.com”

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