Foresthill Public Utility District Purchases Sugar Pine Dam In October 2003, Foresthill Public Utility District completed the $2.8 million purchase of the Sugar Pine Dam and Reservoir Project from the United States Bureau of Reclamation. Foresthill Public Utility District utilized certificates of participation proceeds to purchase the Sugar Pine Dam and associated water rights to provide a reliable, locally controlled, and stable long-term water supply for current and future generations of the Foresthill community.

According to District Manager, Kurt Reed, "this project culminates a nine-year journey of transferring a federal asset to a local government, which is unique to federal land acquisition." Among the government agencies involved in the recent transfer project are the Bureau of Reclamation, United States Forest Service and Foresthill Public Utility District. Prior to the acquisition, the district purchased water from the bureau under a contract that shall expire at the time of purchase.

On Saturday, November 8, 2003, United States Congressman John T. Doolittle, United States Bureau of Reclamation Regional Director Kirk C. Rogers and Area Manager Thomas J. Aiken along with United States Forest Service District Ranger Richard A. Johnson joined the Foresthill Public Utility Board of Directors, and a host of residents for the Sugar Pine Dam and Reservoir Transfer and Dedication Ceremony.

Formed in 1950, Foresthill Public Utility District is governed by a five-member board of directors and provides services for 13,000 acres of land in elevations ranging from 2200 feet to 3500 feet of rural forests. Demand for water has increased 19% in the service area since 1995, to a 2002 total of 1,014 acre-feet. Projections call for a long-range increase in demand to more than double. The filtration plant has a capacity of 3 million gallons per day (mgd), and current average usage is 1 mgd.