Regional Water Partnership

Sonora, CA — A group of local government entities, and non-profit agencies, are working together in hopes of receiving available state funding for water projects.

Plans have been in the works for several years to build consensus on a project list that will benefit the overall region, when it comes to an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.

The group hopes to receive a chunk of the millions of dollars available through state Proposition 84 and 1E bond funds. By working together as a collective group, it increases odds of receiving sizable funding. The agencies involved, and the project list, is as follows:

Tuolumne Utilities District – Phoenix Lake Preservation and Restoration-Phase 2 would move TUD forward in improving water quality, wetlands habitat, and restore storage capacity at Phoenix Lake.

Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District – Water Quality Enhancement and Land
Stewardship Project would raise awareness, teach sustainable management practices, and help
construct water quality improvements on smaller privately owned parcels.

Murphys Sanitary District – Facility Improvement Project would begin to address insufficient
wastewater treatment capacity and enable recycled water to be used for beneficial purposes.

Groveland Community Services District – Big Oak Flat Sewer Lift Station Project would
prevent potential failure and sewage discharge in a key part of the wastewater treatment system.

Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency – In-Home Water Conservation
Disadvantaged Community project would focus crews on assessing water use practices and
installing water-saving devices.

U.S. Forest Service – Upper South Fork Stanislaus River Watershed Restoration Project would
restore degraded wet meadows and repair road culverts that are contributing sediment to
aquatic ecosystems resulting in enhanced water quality, water storage, flood attenuation,
wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities.

Tuolumne River Trust – Watershed Outreach and Stewardship will focus on spreading the
message about watershed health and water use efficiency while involving the community in
watershed stewardship through volunteer workday activities.

Calaveras County Water District – The Douglas Flat/Vallecito Storage Pond Project will
address insufficient wastewater storage capacity in order to reduce potential groundwater
contamination and utilize recycled wastewater for agricultural and other beneficial uses in this
DAC area.

Although the IRWM group has formally endorsed the list, it still has not completed the entire plan that is required for funding. The IRWM plan is expected to be done by August. By having all the groups at the table, and on the same page, it also reduces the chances of future lawsuits.