Georgetown Divide Public Utility District
1946 – 2006
Reflecting on the Past. Planning for the Future

GDPUD Overview

The Georgetown Divide Public Utility District celebrated 60years of service in 2006. The communities we serve are located in western El Dorado County among the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, situated in the heart of the Mother Lode. 

• Location – 72,000 acres serving unincorporated areas of western El Dorado County
• Services – Irrigation and domestic water supplies, on-site wastewater disposal
• Population of area served – 15,000
• Formation Date – June 4, 1946
• Type of District (Act) – California Public Utility District Act
• Source of Water – Pilot Creek water rights
• Amount of Water Served – Approximately 12,000 acre-feet per year
• Predecessor Agencies – A series of private water companies dating back to 1852 and the El Dorado, Pilot and Rock Creek Canal Companies

GDPUD History

The origins of District facilities can be directly traced back to 1852 and the El Dorado, Pilot and Rock Creek Canal Companies, one of the first established water purveyors in the State of California – a not inconsequential result of James Marshall’s discovery of gold in nearby Coloma. Following the decline in gold production, agriculture and lumbering became the staple industries on the Divide for many years.
The focus of the District water supply system is the Stumpy Meadows Reservoir, a 20,000 acre-foot impoundment on Pilot Creek, at the eastern edge of the District. Water from this source of supply traverses down through some 75 miles of ditch and pipeline to provide agricultural water and raw water supplies for the District’s treated water division.

About the Georgetown Divide

The Georgetown Divide is located between the Middle and South Forks of the American River, nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills and Northern California’s Gold Country.  Access is through Hwy 50 and Hwy 80, making it in close proximity to either metropolitan cities or recreational activities of Lake Tahoe.

The community is a haven for those who enjoy boating, hiking, fishing and hunting, and is well known for its fine wine grapes and specialty agriculture. Events to watch for are Founder’s Day and the annual Jeepers Jamboree. 

The Divide has a population of about 15,000 with 415 square miles located in El Dorado County. The communities of Garden Valley, Kelsey, Pilot Hill, Greenwood and Cool surround Georgetown.
For more information on the pleasures of living and working within the Georgetown Divide community, visit www.mygeorgetowndivide.com or www.visit-eldorado.com.