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SLY PARK is a great destination for weekend camping trips, daylong picnics or hikes, photography excursions, peaceful trail bike rides and more.
The El Dorado Irrigation District is very fortunate to have wonderful recreational facilities that we can offer to the community. For those who want to plan weekend camping trips, daylong picnics or hikes, photography excursions, peaceful trail bike rides, or even book a special event at our event center, Sly Park offers it all. We also have great camping and boating facilities further up in the Sierra at Silver Lake West Campground and Silver Lake boat launch and day-use area, Caples Lake boat launch and day-use area, as well as picnic facilities at Forebay Reservoir in Pollock Pines.
Why does EID offer such recreational amenities? One might wonder that since our core business is in water and wastewater.
Recreation is directly related to our core business. All of our recreational facilities are located near, at, or on EID drinking water sources. Additionally, EID is mandated by our Project 184 hydroelectric license to operate these recreational facilities so that the general public has the side benefit of enjoying these amenities all while we responsibly use the water for drinking and irrigation purposes.
You’ll be able to trace the history of the district in our new EID history brochure, as it outlines these ties to the district’s supply of water to the community’s economic viability from the early days of the Gold Rush and growth in agriculture in the region, to today’s modern day businesses and residential growth. This growth has been driven, in part, by the water and other services EID has provided the community over the years.
As mentioned in the EID history brochure, some things have changed quite a bit in El Dorado County since the vote to form EID was certified in 1925. The county’s population grew from about 6,400 in the early 1920s to more than 181,000 in 2011, and EID’s service area has grown from 31,500 acres in 1925 to 140,800 acres today. Other things have not changed a lot. Clean water originating in the high Sierra continues to help shape economic, ecological and cultural aspects of the county. Agriculture remains an economic cornerstone. Rural attributes and outdoor recreation opportunities still attract visitors and new residents. Just as the gold rush miners considered water and gold key to economic prosperity, so too the district continues to protect, defend, and enhance the water supply portfolio for the long-term prosperity of El Dorado County.
The district’s commitment to provide customers with high-quality services and products hasn’t changed either. That’s been a constant since 1925.
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