THE COUNTY OF AMADOR AND JACKSON VALLEY IRRIGATION DISTRICT WILL ALSO VOICE TO JOIN AWA IN A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT
For immediate release: 2/13/17
Contact: Gene Mancebo, General Manager Amador Water Agency, 209-223-3018
Photo Attached: Paul Molinelli, Jr. was sworn in to the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors, by Amador County Clerk Kim Grady. Molinelli, Jr. was appointed to represent District 1 (Jackson area), after the resignation of AWA Director Paul Molinelli, Sr. His term expires in December, 2018.
(Sutter Creek) After a public hearing Thursday, the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors approved a resolution to form a local Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), managed by a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the County of Amador and Jackson Valley Irrigation District.
The state is requiring formation of locally-controlled GSAs to develop and implement sustainability plans for groundwater basins. The Cosumnes Subbasin of the San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Basin runs under an 81.7 square-mile area near the western border of Amador County, primarily west of Pardee Reservoir and State Hwy 104 (or only about 13.5 percent of the total area of the county).
“Previous groundwater level studies in those parts of western Amador County don’t indicate over-use of the groundwater there, but we need current data to prove that to the state water board,” said AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo. “The GSA will be able to apply for grant money for a comprehensive groundwater sustainability study and plan that will satisfy this new state requirement.”
If a local agency is not formed by June 30, 2017, state water officials could assume authority for Amador County’s GSA.
“This only affects a very small portion of the county,” said AWA Director Rich Farrington. “But we really have no choice but to form a GSA if we want local control over how groundwater is managed in Amador County.”
All three Amador County agencies must approve the JPA and will participate equally in the GSA. Also at Thursday’s AWA Board meeting, Paul Molinelli, Jr. was sworn in to the Amador Water Agency Board of Directors, by Amador County Clerk Kim Grady.
Molinelli, Jr., was appointed to represent District 1 (Jackson area), after the resignation of AWA Director Paul Molinelli, to a term that expires in December, 2018. Molinelli, Jr. is partner, vice president and chief operating officer of ACES Waste Services.
