Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors last Friday individually said they opposed expansion of Pardee Reservoir, setting up a likely vote to formally oppose the program at its board meeting Tuesday. The program is part of the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s 2040 Water Supply Management Plan, which the Oakland utility presented in an informational workshop to Amador supervisor on Friday. After a 3-hour presentation, Amador Chairman Ted Novelli said the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Up Program “is a great thing,” but the 2040 plan as presented to the county, he could “not support it in any way, shape or form.” He also noted that East Bay MUD officials made no mention of Alpine County, where 5 rivers originate, and he said East Bay should “get to know Alpine County.” Supervisor Brian Oneto said he saw problems with the 2040 plan, but he “would like to see a better water supply for this county,” through the IRCUP. Supervisor Richard Forster said he “will support staying involved in IRCUP,” but not the projects, especially the “enlarging of Pardee.” He said if East Bay MUD sought to build a new Pardee Dam downstream from Pardee would have the “same impacts as raising Pardee Dam, I don’t think I could support that either.” Supervisor John Plasse agreed, and said “trust is an issue.” Plasse said he should “not support the current project as proposed,” but he believed in collaboration to find regional solutions, and East Bay MUD should “put local support in its EIR.” Forster said if more local involvement was sought by East Bay at the outset, maybe there would be less local opposition. And he asked if “we can get an assurance form the (East Bay) board that Amador and Calaveras have to have a buy-in for this program” to work. East Bay Board Vice Chairman John Coleman said “we are not going to come up here and enlarge Pardee ourselves. We need regional support.” He said they would not pursue raising Pardee dam “without the support and benefits that are derived from local support.” Supervisor Louis Boitano said: “How much water are we taking about for our cut in this partnership? It’s kind of important to make an informed decision.” East Bay MUD General Manager Dennis Diemer said the IRCUP would give Amador County 20,000 acre-feet of water “from Lower Bear reservoir, Pardee or a combination.” Amador Supervisors on Tuesday will consider a resolution to oppose the 2040 plan but to support the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Project “Plus” program. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.