Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last week got a list of items that may fit the category of “shovel ready” in the federal eye. Among those was the AWA compound itself on Ridge Road, where Engineering Manager Gene Mancebo said a couple of holding tanks could replace the shallow pond behind the agency office. Board members asked about the various projects, which included the Gravity Supply Line to the Buckhorn Water Treatment Plant, decades old, with a more recent offshoot that could tie it in to a water treatment plant at Jackson Pines. Mancebo said the $8 million being sought from the federal government for the $11.6 million project was fractioned for matching to help chances of getting funding. AWA board Chairman Terence Moore said projects were only “shovel ready” within reason, because, due to costs, agencies do not get projects ready to go then put them on a shelf. Moore said: “Shovel Ready is a real catchy phrase, but in reality I don’t think too many projects exist like that.” He said Environmental Impact Reports go stale and design is too costly. Mancebo said the gravity supply line has already been authorized to advance with environmental documenting, while surveying is completed. Another bonus, the bulk of the pipeline would be placed in roadways, either logging roads or county roads. Moore said the federal Rural Utilities Service likes AWA because it completes its projects on time, and it has actually been calling the agency and asking when the gravity supply line project will be ready. Mancebo said AWA Finance Manager Michael Lee was attending a workshop last Thursday on the State Economic Stimulus package and would bring the board news. Moore said the AWA’s luck on its list of projects may be helped by which agencies are given the task of allocating funding. Story by Jim Reece