Sugar Pine RV Park

Nestled in the mountains east of Sonora, California—along the gateway to Yosemite National Park—Sugar Pine RV Park and Resort offers visitors an immersive outdoor experience. But when a powerful storm struck the region in late 2019, it left the property severely damaged and in critical need of restoration.

Caltech was brought in to lead the recovery and modernization of the park’s infrastructure. What began as a storm clean-up effort quickly evolved into a full-scale overhaul of the park’s utility systems, culminating in the design and construction of a new, state-permitted wastewater treatment plant capable of handling the park’s long-term needs and expansion plans.

The Challenge
The storm had uprooted and damaged hundreds of trees, impacting RV spaces, housing, and communal areas. Compounding the damage, the park’s existing utility infrastructure—particularly the septic systems—were discovered to be undersized, unpermitted, and failing.

Park management recognized that patchwork fixes wouldn’t suffice. What they needed was a ground-up solution that addressed not just the immediate issues, but positioned the park for future growth, reliability, and environmental compliance.

Caltech’s Approach
Our team immediately responded to the emergency, clearing hazardous debris and stabilizing the site. Once safety was restored, we performed a comprehensive assessment of the park’s utility systems and identified the need for a new, modern wastewater solution.

Working in collaboration with our sister company, NexGen Engineering, we:

• Conducted site evaluations, water balance testing, and environmental assessments
• Navigated state permitting with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB)
• Designed a 25,000 GPD wastewater treatment system tailored to the park’s usage and topography
• Coordinated all clearing, excavation, and installation work in-house to streamline delivery and reduce delays

Results
By August 2024, the new WWTP was fully installed and operational—eliminating previous issues with odors, backups, and overflow. The advanced system now serves the entire park, operates with minimal maintenance, and allows for future capacity as the park expands.

For Sugar Pine, the project marked more than just a recovery—it was a transformation. What began as an emergency response ended in a complete infrastructure upgrade that restored tenant satisfaction, achieved regulatory compliance, and preserved the natural beauty of the site.

Ongoing Value
Sugar Pine RV Park is now equipped to handle seasonal fluctuations in visitor traffic without system failure, public complaints, or costly maintenance interruptions. Caltech’s ability to deliver both the technical and environmental components of the project in-house helped the park owners protect their investment while building for the future.