RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Rancho Murieta residents who have enjoyed more than a dozen backcountry trails constructed by Roger Brandt since 1987 have another reason to express their gratitude. 

Thanks to Brandt’s sharp observations, the Rancho Murieta Community Services District has identified damage to the critical water line that conveys raw water from the Consumnes River to Calero Reservoir.

The section of pipe with the break is located in the Clementia Reservoir spillway about 400 feet below the dam. The pipeline was laid in the 1970s before the district’s formation in 1982.

The timing of the discovery was fortuitous as it allows the district to make repairs before it begins pumping river water to fill Calero and Chesbro Reservoirs on Nov. 1. The river is the community’s only source of water.

Travis Bohannon, who is the district’s interim operations manager, said it could have taken some time before staff noticed the leak because they don’t often get into the spillway. 

“I am very grateful to Roger to bringing this to our attention,” Bohannon said.

Brandt is best known for his trail work, although his efforts these days are focused on maintaining some of the trails he has already built. Fortunately for the community, Brandt is also an avid swimmer. He and his wife, Joanne, swim nearly every day at North Beach, provided the river's flow is sufficient.

On June 20, while at the beach, Brandt noticed something unusual: The overflow ditch from Clementia Reservoir, which is dry in the summer, was releasing water into the river. Curious, Brandt traced the ditch uphill through dense vegetation until he reached the concrete slab in the spillway, about 400 feet below Clementia Dam. There, he discovered water bubbling up from one side of the slab. Marking the location with flagging tape, Brandt promptly informed the district.

Brandt was asked his thoughts about discovering the leak. 

“It’s a darned good thing I figured it out,” he said. “Otherwise, it could have been catastrophic.”

Bohannon reported the discovery at the July 2 Improvements Committee meeting, explaining that he immediately suspected a leak in the water conveyance line beneath the slab. To prevent further issues, he closed the valve at Calero Reservoir to stop the backflow, which effectively halted the leak. 

With permission from General Manager Mimi Morris, Bohannon enlisted TNT Industrial Contractors to assist in identifying the problem. The plan involved removing a manhole to access an inspection plate, allowing a camera to be inserted into the pipe for a closer look.

Bohannon informed the committee that TNT would deploy an excavator, a water truck and a three-man crew, with one member assigned to fire control due to the dry grass. 

“We are going to locate the break and assess the extent of the damage,” Bohannon told the committee. “This isn’t an emergency but we need to complete the repairs before November so we can pump water next year."

Bohannon provided an update at the Aug. 7 Improvements Committee meeting, reporting that TNT began the work on July 29. By Aug. 1, the water line had been exposed and the break found. When workers chipped away some of the concrete from the break, the steel pipe looked good. He added that TNT would insert the camera inside the pipe the following day to see if there were any more breaks.

“We could potentially just weld a patch on it vs. having to cut a 10-foot stick along with fabricating all the connections and stuff,” he said. 

Bohannon explained that the break likely resulted from the pipe shifting and slightly twisting over time, possibly due to insufficient soil compaction and inadequate stabilization during the installation. Once the repair is completed, TNT will compact the soil and likely add kickers (concrete blocks) to ensure the pipe remains securely in place.

When the River Valley Times followed up with Bohannon about the repair a week later, he reported that patching the pipe was not an option because the metal was too thin. Instead, a new 10-foot section of pipe will be installed. Bohannon added that TNT is currently sourcing the necessary parts and the pipe, with repairs estimated to take place on Sept.13.

Bohannon said he didn’t want to delay repairs, even though it was more than likely that the pipe would have held up during the next pumping season. 

“I didn’t want to take the chance, because if the pipe had gotten worse and broke more during the pumping season, we would have lost months of pumping time,” he said. 

Bohannon also cautioned the committee and the board that he expects the repair will be quite costly. The district’s contracted engineering firm, Domenichelli and Associates, is overseeing the repair process.

After moving to the community in 1987, Brandt built his first trail connecting the North Beach to the Bass Lake Pump when he was still working. That’s because he loved swimming in the rapids below North Beach but didn’t like coming back on the road. More trails followed, especially after he retired 12 years ago. The most accessible is the Park Trail located in the wooded area off Camino Del Lago.

Brandt was asked why he spent so much time building trails. 

“I like nature and I like to showcase it to other people who live out here,” Brandt said. “Plus, it was a lot of fun.”

The Murieta Trail Stewardship, a group primarily made up of mountain bikers, has constructed additional trails mostly around Calero Reservoir, which have also become popular with residents.

All these trails were constructed on private property owned by Rancho Murieta Properties. Several years ago, the late John Sullivan reached an agreement with the stewardship not to build any more trails without permission and to maintain the trails already constructed. Sullivan told Brandt to stop building new trails.