Several Water Projects Flowing In Mother Lode
Sonora, CA – The projects benefit the Stanislaus and Tuolumne watersheds and are being funded by the state through voter approved monies.
The $3.5-million funding for the water projects comes from Proposition 84, the “Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006.” Members of the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Authority (T-S IRWMA), made up of more than 25 local water stakeholders, has begun working on eight projects within the region. The Department of Water Resources is overseeing the plans through its Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program, which is a collaborative effort to manage all aspects of water resources in a region. Developed over the past two years, the Tuolumne-Stanislaus Regional Water Management Plan will utilize state and local funds and in-kind resources to finance the projects.
The authority provided this list of projects:
1. Murphys Sanitary District Wastewater Treatment Facility Sprayfield Improvement Project: The project will construct new sprayfield infrastructure on 20 acres adjacent to the existing wastewater treatment facility to provide reliable effluent disposal capacity. Its benefits include protection of ground and surface water as well as public health. Grant Funding: $267,900.00
2. Stanislaus National Forest Upper South Fork Stanislaus River Watershed Restoration and Water Quality Enhancement Project: The project will restore seven wet meadows totaling approximately 130 acres and repair approximately 40 road culverts that contribute sediment to aquatic systems. The project will enhance and protect the watershed through improvements to water quality, water storage, flood attenuation, carbon storage, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. Grant Funding: $329,000.00
3. Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District Small Parcel Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Landowner Stewardship Program: The project will address site-specific nutrient, sediment, and pathogen discharges into the Stanislaus and Tuolumne River Watersheds from small privately owned parcels through targeted education and outreach to landowners. Program will include locally relevant education materials, workshops, technical assistance, and demonstration projects. Grant Funding: $240,000.00
4. Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency Home Level Water Conservation for the Disadvantaged Community: The Project will conduct outreach, take applications, perform water usage assessments, develop a list of water conservation measures that can be cost-effectively installed, and install water conservation measures for disadvantaged communities (DAC) members who live within the Tuolumne River and Stanislaus River watersheds in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties. The Project will conserve water and stabilize or lower water rates to supply affordable drinking water to a disadvantaged community. Grant Funding: $188,000.00
5. Tuolumne Utilities District Phoenix Lake Preservation and Restoration: The Project will improve water quality and restore storage capacity in Phoenix Lake and the Phoenix Lake watershed. The Project will complete engineering plans for the Phoenix Lake improvements, complete environmental review, obtain all required regulatory permits and compliance, and begin implementation by excavating approximately 45,000 cubic yards of sediment from the lake. Grant Funding: $1,598,000.00
6. Tuolumne River Trust Tuolumne-Stanislaus Watershed Outreach and Stewardship: The project will implement a watershed stewardship program and a public education campaign in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties. Implementation measures will include public outreach through internet and social media as well as presentations, news articles, and events. Project will promote activities to improve watershed health and water use efficiency. Grant Funding: $47,000.00
7. Calaveras County Water District Douglas Flat/Vallecito Recycled Water Distribution Project: The project will prepare plans, develop necessary permitting, and construct a recycled water distribution system located at the CCWD wastewater treatment plant in Vallecito.
Grant Funding: $188,000.00
8. Groveland Community Services District Sewer Lift Station Water Quality Protection Project: The Project will repair identified deficiencies of a sewer collection system serving the community of Big Oak Flat. Implementation measures include improvement to Sewer Lift Station #16, repair of leaks in the Big Oak Flat sewer collection system, and replacement of fittings and couplings in the force main. Redundancy and back-up pumping capability will be added to reduce the potential of sewage spills into the adjacent Rattlesnake Creek. Project benefits include water quality protection for groundwater and Rattlesnake Creek and Don Pedro Reservoir, and protection of public health and the environment. Grant Funding: $564,000.00
*Project names are italicized.
Click here for additional information on the projects.
