Friday October 2, 2026
Calaveras Enterprise —
Deeply connected to the community both literally and figuratively, the history of the Calaveras County’s largest water district is coming to light for many as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.
Calaveras County Water District (CCWD), formed in 1946 through the will of local leaders and support from 97% of the voting populace, came into being during a time when local voters in the Sierra foothills generally supported the creation of community service districts to preserve local water rights along with upgrading water delivery and discharge systems to modern standards.
Interestingly enough, CCWD External Affairs Manager Kelly Gerkensmeyer, who first began working for the district as a temporary summer hire laborer during the summer of 2001 and is celebrating his 25th work anniversary, is the staffer currently of longest tenure. Through his own passion for the district’s history and the very auspices of his communications outreach position, he has found himself as CCWD’s lead storyteller and archivist.