Sewage leak temporarily closes part of Squaw

The upper mountain at Squaw Valley reopened today after being closed because of a sewage leak.

Through the resort’s monitoring system employees realized something was wrong Dec. 26. The leak was found that afternoon, which led to the upper area being closed and the sewer system shut off.

“The site was excavated and the pipelines exposed between the afternoon of Dec. 26 and the early morning hours of Dec. 27. Squaw Valley determined that the leak had allowed earthen materials to enter the pipeline and to create a blockage,” resort spokeswoman Amelia Richmond told Lake Tahoe News.

Squaw Valley Public Service District employees were on site while resort staff and others cleaned out the blocked pipes.

Pipes were fixed by Friday afternoon and the tram began running again that evening.

“Placer County environmental health staff visited the site and observed that Squaw Valley had taken remedial measures, noting that the leak did not appear to have reached any water courses and that no sewage odor was present,” Richmond said.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report