Powerline overhaul

Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Inyo National Forest recently announced that work to rebuild the Rhinedollar Overhead Powerline in Lee Vining Canyon will commence around the middle of of July. Depending on weather conditions, the project is expected to be completed in early October. The project is located within the Mono Lake Ranger District of the Inyo National Forest.

This rebuild is necessary to meet current state and safety standards, as well as provide increased reliability to the customers served by this line, which includes the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park. Replacement of these towers would start near the Ellery Lake Dam and continue down canyon terminating at the Poole Power Plant. The rebuild project involves replacing 12 existing steel lattice structures with new tubular steel poles. The new poles will support an upgraded 12 kilovolt distribution circuit, as well as a new fiber optic line that will be used for internal SCE communications related to the hydroelectric project located in Lee Vining Canyon.

Because of limited access to the project structures, it will be necessary for SCE to use helicopters to remove and install all material, as well as to transport personnel and equipment. The project will take approximately 90 days to complete with a work week that includes Saturdays and Sundays due to the short window of time to complete the project. Visitors can expect some limited traffic control related to this project. –INF