Shelter Cove is an unincorporated residential community located in Southern Humboldt County on the Lost Coast of California. The Resort Improvement District No. 1 (District) is a special-purpose district established in 1965 pursuant to the State Public Resources Code Section 13000-13233. Only three such districts were created before this enabling legislation was repealed by the State Legislature in 1975. The District was formed for the purpose of installing and maintaining facilities that provide electric, water and sewer services for the community of Shelter Cove. The District also manages the greenbelt areas within the sub-division, the Shelter Cove Golf Links, children's playground, recreational trails , the day-use Shelter Cove Airport and the Shelter Cove Fire Department which provides emergency services such as fire protection, emergency medical and ocean rescue.
The District is governed by a five-member board of directors elected to four-year terms of office by the residents of Shelter Cove. Regular monthly board meetings are held every third Thursday at 09:00 AM in the Fire Station meeting hall located at 9126 Shelter Cove Road, Shelter Cove, CA 95589.
We provide the community of Shelter Cove with clean drinking water obtained from Telegraph Creek, Rick Spring and water wells located throughout the sub-division. The district maintains 12 storage tanks (welded steel and redwood) ranging in size from 0.03 MG to 1 MG. The distribution system consists of approximately 44 miles of water main of varying size. The majority of the distribution system is asbestos cement (AC) pipe, but some above ground cross-country steel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is also present.
Our wastewater treatment plant is state of the art and serves the lower portion of Shelter Cove. The service includes wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal. RID’s collection system incorporates both gravity mains and nine lift stations. The wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) consists of coarse screening, two oxidation ditches, two clarifiers, and chlorination/de-chlorination facilities.
The RID purchases wholesale electricity from Western Area Power Authority to deliver to its residents. Power transmitted through a district owned 7-mile inter tie line, beginning at a PG&E recloser located near the Mattole River bridge in Whitethorn and terminating at the district’s sub-station. Electricity is distributed to customers through 4.5 miles of underground cable in the flat lower elevations of the Cove and over 37 miles of pole line in steep areas. The RID's generator building located on Shelter Cove Road contains three emergency generators that are used to power the entire community during Cove wide power outages.
