Jackson – The Amador County Joint Water Committee heard an update on the “2040 Master Plan” for the East Bay Municipal Utility District on Monday. Specifically, they heard about the East Bay MUD board’s recent vote to omit the most extreme expansion of Pardee Reservoir in Amador County, but it also retained 4 other options for its expansion. Amador Water Agency Chairman Terence Moore said it was not clear to him “what they did relative to Pardee.” The Foothill Conservancy’s Pete Bell said the 2040 plan included 5 options, including 4 the Conservancy did not know about. The original plan to increase the size of the dam at Pardee (which was opposed by nearly every Amador public entity) was taken from the 2040 plan last week. But 4 other options were left in, all dealing with expansion at Pardee. Bell said of those, the most far-reaching was Option 4, raising the dam to flood Mokelumne River shores and raise the water level to 1,000 feet above the Highway 49 bridge. Option 3 would raise the water level up to the 49 bridge. Option 2 would raise the water level to a few hundred yards downstream, below the bridge. Bell said Option 1 would be to build a dam below Pardee, flooding the area below Pardee and keeping the water levels at the same “high flow height.” AWA Interim General Manager Gene Mancebo said the Integrated Regional Conjunctive Use Project collaboration still needs work to see how much underground water storage would be created. He said building storage may be required. In a related, but dissimilar action, Bell said the East Bay MUD board also voted 6-0 last week “to endorse and actively support ‘Wild & Scenic’ designation on the Mokelumne River.” AWA board Vice Chairman Bill Condrashoff said “that’s pretty huge. It seems like a big partner to have.” Bell said it is, but he asked how it compared to the same board in the same meeting voting 5-2 to keep Pardee Lake in its 2040 plan. Amador County Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli said the board of supervisors has an upcoming workshop on the Wild & Scenic designation issue in regard to the Mokelumne River. Novelli said it is “a workshop with possible action,” set for November 2nd. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.