This week representatives of the Board of Supervisors and Amador Water Agency got up to speed on local water issues at their regular joint water committee meeting. Jim Abercrombie, General Manager of the Water Agency, reported that the Agency and the City of Sutter Creek are working to improve the capacity of the Sutter Creek wastewater plant in order to avoid sewer and water moratoriums for builders in the Martell area. Abercrombie also reported that the Water Agency is going to be considering raising the water level at Bear River Reservoir. They are looking to meet with Calaveras County to look at how raising the water could be beneficial to ecological, economic, and community interests, and if such a project would be worth the cost. The last issue discussed at the meeting was the backwash disposal situation in Ione. Supervisor Louis Boitano said that there are opportunities through both Preston and Mule Creek State Prison, with the waste water troubles Ione is currently experiencing. Abercrombie suggested the option of Preston and Mule Creek working with Ione to treat the water to a tertiary level. Boitano stated this would alleviate most of Ione's raw water needs.