Amador County – The Amador Regional Planning Committee next week will hear a sewer plant update from staff of the city of Sutter Creek. The presentation is part of an ongoing update by member entities on their respective wastewater systems. The committee requested each jurisdiction to present an overview of its wastewater treatment facilities and plans. The intent of the committee was to discuss challenges and share solutions related to the treatment and disposal of wastewater, and seek opportunities to coordinate efforts whenever feasible. Sutter Creek City Manager Rob Duke was expected to give the presentation, on the Amador Regional Sanitation Authority Master Plan. Duke did the same at a Sutter Creek City Council meeting earlier this month and said ARSA’s partnership includes Amador City, Sutter Creek and Ione. He said the ARSA Master Plan’s Environmental Impact Report will “hit the streets in about 60 days.” Sutter Creek Councilman Pat Crosby asked about the treatment plant and its being “unsatisfactory because of flooding.” Duke said that was fixed in the master plan. He said: “Up to a 125-year flood level, we have protection.” ARSA’s new plant will be located “above ground,” with 17-foot tall walls. It will be improved by developers of the Gold Rush Ranch & Golf Resort. He said the first phase capacity, including the resort, will be 700,000 gallons a day in “tertiary” level treatment. In phase 2, that goes to 1 million gallons a day, again with Gold Rush included. Phase 3, to be built out “probably in 2050”, would cost an estimated $9 Million to $11 Million Dollars. He said ARSA’s system includes the 100-year-old Henderson Dam, for which ARSA signed a 30-year lease with the state. That lease runs through 2028. Duke said it was estimated it will not be until 2020 that ARSA has “recycling programs going at Gold Rush.” Earlier this month, City Manager Kim Kerr reported on Ione’s wastewater system, during the Regional Planning Committee’s meeting. Members also discussed some financing. Kerr said Ione’s wastewater system was now 100 percent contracted. Jackson Mayor Connie Gonsalves said the Jackson City Council recently contracted its wastewater plant as operation as well, in the last 6 months. The regional planning committee meets 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 5th at the Sutter Creek civic building on Church Street. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.