Plymouth – At 156 years old, the third century of the Arroyo Ditch may be its most lucrative, according Plymouth City Manager Dixon Flynn. The canal built in 1853 and long operated as the primary water source for Plymouth had fallen into disrepair. This summer it was restored, and once again flowed into Plymouth. Flynn told the Plymouth City Council last week that the value of the ditch water rights could be exponential in the next decade. Flynn said his “conservative estimate of the financial benefit to Plymouth is between $10 (million) and $20 million over the next 10 years.” He said: “Approximately $500,000 per year will be used to lower water and sewer rates for the existing residents in Plymouth.” The city awaits activation of a $10 million water pipeline that it built with the Amador Water Agency. Funding the project’s debt service has been an item of concern in the city, and the water diversion rights connecting Plymouth with the Cosumnes River have been the object of work with the Shenandoah Water Company. In January, the town formerly known as Pokerville, sought a contractor to help with ditch operation and rights. In April, Shenandoah Water Company began work on the ditch, and in mid-May, after the contractor spent $60,0000, water flowed again through the Arroyo Ditch and into Plymouth. In July, the Plymouth City Council retained water rights law specialists, Somach Simmons & Dunn of Sacramento, and since then have been negotiating with Shenandoah Water Company. Flynn said Thursday “city staff and the mayor have conducted extensive discussion with the county and Shenandoah Water Company regarding the city’s water right and the marketing of water.” He said the objective is to “market the city’s water on a short term basis.” Flynn told the council “we are close to an agreement.” Negotiations have been done by Mayor Jon Colburn and also Councilwoman Patricia Shackleton. In the January request for proposals, Flynn said there was “a wide range of opinions on the city’s water rights.” He said the Arroyo Ditch is a “pre-1914 water right and the estimated right ranges from approximately 23,000 acre fee to approximately 500 acre feet.” The right allows that amount of water to be diverted from the Cosumnes River. Plymouth signed a 2006 agreement with the AWA to build the pipeline, which will be dedicated in a ceremony at the city water tank, 10:30 a.m. Monday. Plymouth faces developer plans seeking 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. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.