Shang Updates 

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Silt Trap Cleaning, Fire Prevention and Clean Up, and More Water Leaks

Report from Peter W. 
Update from last week's trip:
  • Brought up 15 bags of pea gravel to broadcast under round table and into the open area towards pathway. Will bring more bags when able to finish open area in front of BBQ and supplement path. 
  • Opened silt trap below spring after noticing water dripping out of the top. Opened it to find clogged pipes, mostly due to moss. Brought down several sections of hose to blow out lines, including the drain line at the silt trap. The tank was really full of silt and moss. Scrubbed entire inside of tank with bleach, flushed many times down to the lower tank clean out and reconnected everything. I am not entirely sure what Allan's process is to clean the silt trap but a full, extensive cleaning is very necessary at least 1x per year. Note: The current silt trap was burned during the fire and a new - stainless steel silt trap and all connections are included in the new waterline proposal. 
  • Cut - with chainsaw - the burned remnants/stalks of scrub oaks (hard black sticks poking out of the ground lakeside) and cut as much of the scrub oaks as possible. There is a large pile at the lake that needs to be hauled to behind the lake area. 
  • My Dad brought up his small generator and mouse sander for Allan to start working on finishing work at pump house. He also started chipping all the excess mortar away from cinder blocks. It will take some time to get the pump house finished, between Allan and my Dad. I don't even mention Andrew Pepper's name as the two of them are so irritated at the really really bad workmanship. On another note, the pier work he did is pretty lame, but you get what you pay for, as they say. 
  • Weed-wacked some of the weeds coming up on the West side of the pump house.
  • Hauled away the remaining wood, etc. from the shelving removed for the solar system equipment.
  • Raked all piles from the downed apricot tree and grape vines, and a lot of leaves/grass from around the house. Put it all in the hole in the hillside by wood shed. 
  • My Dad took the Shang chainsaw home as it was missing a couple screws. He found this out when we had to cut up a tree that had fallen over the road. Brought the chainsaw back after taking it to Bar-Hein in Sacramento and getting new screws. It is back in the garage. 
  • My Dad measured area around support line for main gate which runs under a large branch of the Oak. He will be installing a new support that will run over the branch so as to not encumber or interfere with the tree branch. Better for gate, better for tree. 
  • Watered, watered, and watered. Everything that a hose could reach. 
Update from today:
  • My Dad is up at the Ranch now for solar installation project. They crew arrive early this morning and started to lay out equipment, dimensions, install housing, etc. My Dad reviewed all work, areas, plan, etc. with John (North Bay Solar).They have not received the solar water pump. I spoke to my Dad and the crew is only working one day (today) and will return next week on Wednesday. My Dad will talk with Allan to see if he can oversee next week as he needs a break from all the trips. If Allan is not available, he will plan to go up. He plans on sending photos of what has been brought up and/or delivered so far. 
  • When my Dad arrived, the water tank was MUCH lower than when we left it. He found, yet, another leak in the water line and water was leaking out since we pumped last weekend. There is a hypothesis that the fires have stressed the existing line, leaving it weak and vulnerable to leaks (large and small). Don't know, but it seems like a new leak each week and different areas in the main line. He fixed the leak in the line and watered around the house. 


Peter
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