County sells land to Pine Cove Water

Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) is expanding its acreage by 18 acres. The purchase of Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District (POSD) land in Pine Cove is finally coming to completion.

The board of supervisors approved the sale at its Oct. 17 meeting during its function as the board for the (POSD), which had declared the land surplus. The purchase price is $140,000, which will come from reserves.

The POSD has determined that the land that is situated on a steep slope and includes jagged rock outcrops is not really suitable for park use. The board concurred with this decision at its May 2 meeting.

The 18.4-acre parcel is near Rocky Point and Thousand Trails. PCWD has had three wells drilled on the property, the first in 2006. The county action memorandum also stated, “… the property is vacant, with the exception of a restroom building, which will be demolished prior to consummating the sale.”

“The land purchase is important to the District, not only because of the three wells that are currently on the property, but also due to the four wells that are below it, in that draw,” Jeremy Potter, PCWD general manger wrote in an email to the Town Crier in May when it was initially presented to the supervisors. “[We want] to ensure protection of these wells; owning the property upstream is beneficial in the quality of our water.”

The board’s resolution does state that this property will be maintained as a public park and recreational area. Further, PCWD cannot transfer the land to another owner without consent from the parks agency.

POSD originally acquired the land in 1963 and another piece in 1973. Until 2008, it was used as park land until it was permanently closed.