Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week approved advertising to find qualified operators for its 1853 Arroyo Ditch, after learning that people are interested in the long-time water source that once linked Pokerville with the Cosumnes River. City Manager Dixon Flynn said city staff heard “some interest expressed in the development of the Arroyo Ditch,” from a “wide range of people,” and he encouraged giving the private sector a chance to take on the project. Flynn said the ideal candidates would need to have expert financial capacity, legal experience with water rights and the technical ability to make the earthen berm ditch operational. He said the city council can also waive any requirements it chooses. He said qualifications should include having the legal ability to “address the questions about our water rights.” Flynn in a staff report said the advertisement would seek “proposals to develop the Arroyo Ditch at ‘no’ or ‘little’ cost to the city.” He said the city “anticipates that after the qualified individuals and firms are selected, a future date will be selected to accept proposals that satisfy the city’s goals of developing the Arroyo Ditch as a long-term source of water.” The report told the history of the ditch, developed in 1853 to bring water for mining from the Cosumnes River to Plymouth. The city took ownership in the early 1900s and it was Plymouth’s primary water source until 1987. Flynn said “there is a wide range of opinions on the city’s water rights … a pre-1914 water right and the estimated right ranges from approximately 23,000 acre fee to approximately 500 acre feet.” Plymouth signed a 2006 agreement with the Amador Water Agency to build the Plymouth Pipeline Project and now faces development of about 2,500 homes and 27 commercial buildings over the next 20 years, along with the possibility of a casino, proposed by the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, to be built adjacent to the city. Qualifications must be submitted to Flynn at Plymouth City Hall by 4 p.m. Friday, January 30th. Story by Jim Reece
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Amador County – The Plymouth City Council last week approved advertising to find qualified operators for its 1853 Arroyo Ditch, after learning that people are interested in the long-time water source that once linked Pokerville with the Cosumnes River. City Manager Dixon Flynn said city staff heard “some interest expressed in the development of the Arroyo Ditch,” from a “wide range of people,” and he encouraged giving the private sector a chance to take on the project. Flynn said the ideal candidates would need to have expert financial capacity, legal experience with water rights and the technical ability to make the earthen berm ditch operational. He said the city council can also waive any requirements it chooses. He said qualifications should include having the legal ability to “address the questions about our water rights.” Flynn in a staff report said the advertisement would seek “proposals to develop the Arroyo Ditch at ‘no’ or ‘little’ cost to the city.” He said the city “anticipates that after the qualified individuals and firms are selected, a future date will be selected to accept proposals that satisfy the city’s goals of developing the Arroyo Ditch as a long-term source of water.” The report told the history of the ditch, developed in 1853 to bring water for mining from the Cosumnes River to Plymouth. The city took ownership in the early 1900s and it was Plymouth’s primary water source until 1987. Flynn said “there is a wide range of opinions on the city’s water rights … a pre-1914 water right and the estimated right ranges from approximately 23,000 acre fee to approximately 500 acre feet.” Plymouth signed a 2006 agreement with the Amador Water Agency to build the Plymouth Pipeline Project and now faces development of about 2,500 homes and 27 commercial buildings over the next 20 years, along with the possibility of a casino, proposed by the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, to be built adjacent to the city. Qualifications must be submitted to Flynn at Plymouth City Hall by 4 p.m. Friday, January 30th. Story by Jim Reece
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