Jackson – The Foothill Conservancy is rallying those who oppose the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s proposed plan to expand Pardee Reservoir to join them at the mammoth water and sewage treatment company’s board meeting in Oakland next week. The seven members of EBMUD’s board will decide on Tuesday, October 13 whether to approve the 2040 water plan. The proposal includes the highly contested option of expanding Pardee and flooding a reach of the Mokelumne River. “The EBMUD directors need to see your face in the fancy EBMUD ‘Water Palace’ to remind them that their decision will affect us and the river we love: real people and real places -- and the real wildlife and fish they support,” said the Foothill Conservancy in an email distributed earlier this week. “We want to pack that room just like we filled the hearings up here,” said the email. EBMUD was criticized for limited outreach in foothill communities when the plan came to public attention earlier this year. A meeting at Amador Water Agency headquarters did not properly accommodate all who attended and a crowd of nearly 300 protestors filled the San Andreas Town Hall at a second outreach meeting in April. The vast majority of local individuals, groups and government entities have publicly objected to the plan, citing potential damage to the river’s ecosystem, the destruction of historic sites like the Middle Bar Bridge and irreversible damage to a river considered important to Native Americans. The East Bay is dependent on the 600-square-mile watershed, which is where 90 percent of its water originates. At the Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting last week, Katherine Evatt of the Foothill Conservancy said “I’ve never seen so many people agree about one issue as they do about this issue.” At that same meeting, Supervisors reinforced their opposition to the proposed dam expansion by approving a second protest letter to EBMUD Director John Coleman. The letter states “that EBMUD should be able to meet the expected demands of consumers even during consecutive drought years through rationing, conservation, recycling, and the Bayside groundwater Phase 2.” Supervisor Louis Boitano called EBMUD’s outreach to the county a “dog and pony show” and said “they need to show us something more.” Those who plan to attend the EBMUD meeting on Tuesday, October 13 can join the Foothill Conservancy on a bus trip to Oakland that is leaving from Jackson. The meeting is at 1:15 pm. Sign up now by calling Randy at 209-295-4900 or e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pine Grove – Amador County Young Eagles Program Coordinator Harry Brandt of Pine said this year’s Wings & Wheels had flown more than 100 children by the time an incident Saturday afternoon closed down the free airplane rides for children. But those who signed up will still get to take a flight, and the show will go on. Brandt said: “As unfortunate as this was, in retrospect, it’s a fender-bender.” One of the planes, taking part in the Experimental Aircraft Association program, had a mishap in an attempted takeoff, and spun off the runway. The FAA is calling it an “incident,” and will not investigate. Brandt said: “We’re just grateful that the pilot and the 3 passengers were not injured in any way.” Brandt said Pilot Ron Gagnon, of Calaveras County, was unhurt and “he was more upset about spoiling these children’s airplane ride.” Brandt was on the ground and from his vantage point, could not see the incident. He said his “concern was accounting for children and planes.” They had 13 planes on the flight line and there were 2 in the air and 3 out taxiing, which were called back. He responded to the incident about 4 minutes later. Responders included Young Eagles cadets, Calstar medics and fire fighters. Later, Brandt set about giving rain checks to children who signed up, and they “will attempt to get the remaining children out to fly.” The Young Eagles, with national spokesman, actor Harrison Ford, aim at getting children, age 8-17 interested in flying. Young Eagles have flown thousands of children in the region, and local chapters have events almost monthly. Brandt said volunteer pilots and aircraft must be EAA qualified. And the “even an experimental aircraft is a fully FAA-certified plane,” just not built by a manufacturer. The pilots in Saturday’s program were fully licensed, with private, air transport or commercial licenses, and a combined experience of more that 20,000 flight hours. Brandt talked to parents of each child involved in the incident Saturday. “The kids are all fine, physically and mentally,” he said. And he “extended invitation to each family to take them out personally” in his plane, “to satisfy them that it is safe and comfortable.” Brandt said he was not sure what went wrong Saturday, but closing the rides after the incident grounded about 50 kids who had signed up. They will be contacted by Brandt to be offered their flights as promised in the future, after he find pilots to volunteer. Brandt said it costs him about $150 an hour to fly his plane, “so the expenses these people are incurring and the generosity of them” (is remarkable). Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – The long-anticipated H1N1 vaccine will soon be available for distribution, according to an announcement Wednesday by the Amador County Public Health Department. An initial supply of approximately 400 doses of the FluMist version of the vaccine will be divvied out among those who are at greatest risk from the virus. The release said local priorities for offering this first shipment will focus on children age 2-5 and caregivers, through age 49, of infants 6 months or younger. Distribution will be done in cooperation with local medical providers who serve pediatric patients. “We are in the planning process with Amador County Unified School District to provide additional; school FluMist clinics using H1N1 nasal vaccine,” said Angel LeSage, Public Health Director. Upon arrival of another shipment of about 5000 doses of the injectable vaccine later this month, additional groups like pregnant women will be identified as the next priority for vaccination. H1N1 has been identified as present in Amador County, and health officials continue to monitor its impact on local populations. “H1N1 continues to circulate and remains, for the majority of people, a mild illness similar to seasonal flu,” said Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. “The best prevention for both H1N1 and seasonal flu remains vaccination, washing your hands frequently, covering your cough and your sneeze and staying at home if you are sick.” The current strain of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, was first reported in Mexico earlier this year. On June 11, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide Pandemic Influenza Alert Level to Phase Six, the highest such designation for a flu outbreak. Hartmann said “heavy case counts are present in the southern hemisphere of the world.” He said Amador County Public Health is collaborating with the Amador County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, Sutter Amador Hospital, Department of Corrections, and Amador County Unified School District to prepare for Fall 2009 flu season. To stay up-to-date on current flu and H1N1 virus and vaccine information and reccomendations, visit the Amador County Public Health website on your screen. For more information, contact them by phone at 223-6407. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – The long-anticipated H1N1 vaccine will soon be available for distribution, according to an announcement Wednesday by the Amador County Public Health Department. An initial supply of approximately 400 doses of the FluMist version of the vaccine will be divvied out among those who are at greatest risk from the virus. The release said local priorities for offering this first shipment will focus on children age 2-5 and caregivers, through age 49, of infants 6 months or younger. Distribution will be done in cooperation with local medical providers who serve pediatric patients. “We are in the planning process with Amador County Unified School District to provide additional; school FluMist clinics using H1N1 nasal vaccine,” said Angel LeSage, Public Health Director. Upon arrival of another shipment of about 5000 doses of the injectable vaccine later this month, additional groups like pregnant women will be identified as the next priority for vaccination. H1N1 has been identified as present in Amador County, and health officials continue to monitor its impact on local populations. “H1N1 continues to circulate and remains, for the majority of people, a mild illness similar to seasonal flu,” said Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. “The best prevention for both H1N1 and seasonal flu remains vaccination, washing your hands frequently, covering your cough and your sneeze and staying at home if you are sick.” The current strain of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, was first reported in Mexico earlier this year. On June 11, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide Pandemic Influenza Alert Level to Phase Six, the highest such designation for a flu outbreak. Hartmann said “heavy case counts are present in the southern hemisphere of the world.” He said Amador County Public Health is collaborating with the Amador County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, Sutter Amador Hospital, Department of Corrections, and Amador County Unified School District to prepare for Fall 2009 flu season. To stay up-to-date on current flu and H1N1 virus and vaccine information and reccomendations, visit the Amador County Public Health website on your screen. For more information, contact them by phone at 223-6407. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pine Grove – Amador County Young Eagles Program Coordinator Harry Brandt of Pine said this year’s Wings & Wheels had flown more than 100 children by the time an incident Saturday afternoon closed down the free airplane rides for children. But those who signed up will still get to take a flight, and the show will go on. Brandt said: “As unfortunate as this was, in retrospect, it’s a fender-bender.” One of the planes, taking part in the Experimental Aircraft Association program, had a mishap in an attempted takeoff, and spun off the runway. The FAA is calling it an “incident,” and will not investigate. Brandt said: “We’re just grateful that the pilot and the 3 passengers were not injured in any way.” Brandt said Pilot Ron Gagnon, of Calaveras County, was unhurt and “he was more upset about spoiling these children’s airplane ride.” Brandt was on the ground and from his vantage point, could not see the incident. He said his “concern was accounting for children and planes.” They had 13 planes on the flight line and there were 2 in the air and 3 out taxiing, which were called back. He responded to the incident about 4 minutes later. Responders included Young Eagles cadets, Calstar medics and fire fighters. Later, Brandt set about giving rain checks to children who signed up, and they “will attempt to get the remaining children out to fly.” The Young Eagles, with national spokesman, actor Harrison Ford, aim at getting children, age 8-17 interested in flying. Young Eagles have flown thousands of children in the region, and local chapters have events almost monthly. Brandt said volunteer pilots and aircraft must be EAA qualified. And the “even an experimental aircraft is a fully FAA-certified plane,” just not built by a manufacturer. The pilots in Saturday’s program were fully licensed, with private, air transport or commercial licenses, and a combined experience of more that 20,000 flight hours. Brandt talked to parents of each child involved in the incident Saturday. “The kids are all fine, physically and mentally,” he said. And he “extended invitation to each family to take them out personally” in his plane, “to satisfy them that it is safe and comfortable.” Brandt said he was not sure what went wrong Saturday, but closing the rides after the incident grounded about 50 kids who had signed up. They will be contacted by Brandt to be offered their flights as promised in the future, after he find pilots to volunteer. Brandt said it costs him about $150 an hour to fly his plane, “so the expenses these people are incurring and the generosity of them” (is remarkable). Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – The Foothill Conservancy is rallying those who oppose the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s proposed plan to expand Pardee Reservoir to join them at the mammoth water and sewage treatment company’s board meeting in Oakland next week. The seven members of EBMUD’s board will decide on Tuesday, October 13 whether to approve the 2040 water plan. The proposal includes the highly contested option of expanding Pardee and flooding a reach of the Mokelumne River. “The EBMUD directors need to see your face in the fancy EBMUD ‘Water Palace’ to remind them that their decision will affect us and the river we love: real people and real places -- and the real wildlife and fish they support,” said the Foothill Conservancy in an email distributed earlier this week. “We want to pack that room just like we filled the hearings up here,” said the email. EBMUD was criticized for limited outreach in foothill communities when the plan came to public attention earlier this year. A meeting at Amador Water Agency headquarters did not properly accommodate all who attended and a crowd of nearly 300 protestors filled the San Andreas Town Hall at a second outreach meeting in April. The vast majority of local individuals, groups and government entities have publicly objected to the plan, citing potential damage to the river’s ecosystem, the destruction of historic sites like the Middle Bar Bridge and irreversible damage to a river considered important to Native Americans. The East Bay is dependent on the 600-square-mile watershed, which is where 90 percent of its water originates. At the Amador County Board of Supervisors meeting last week, Katherine Evatt of the Foothill Conservancy said “I’ve never seen so many people agree about one issue as they do about this issue.” At that same meeting, Supervisors reinforced their opposition to the proposed dam expansion by approving a second protest letter to EBMUD Director John Coleman. The letter states “that EBMUD should be able to meet the expected demands of consumers even during consecutive drought years through rationing, conservation, recycling, and the Bayside groundwater Phase 2.” Supervisor Louis Boitano called EBMUD’s outreach to the county a “dog and pony show” and said “they need to show us something more.” Those who plan to attend the EBMUD meeting on Tuesday, October 13 can join the Foothill Conservancy on a bus trip to Oakland that is leaving from Jackson. The meeting is at 1:15 pm. Sign up now by calling Randy at 209-295-4900 or e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jackson – Hotdogs and housing units. The Amador County Planning Commission will hold 7 public hearings next week, including looking at a request for a hotdog stand permit in Martell, and the split of several parcels, including one that would create 16 one-acre lots in Drytown. The commission will consider a request for a permit “to allow for outdoor sales consisting of a hot dog stand. Applicant Gregory McKeag seeks to operate “Mac Daddy Dogs” west of Highway 49 and north of Martell Road in the Meek’s Hardware parking lot in Martell. Another hearing will be held on a request by Thomas Estate Company proposing the division of 18.84 acres into 17 one-acre, single-family residential parcels in Drytown. The item includes an “environmental document determination and possible project decision, for the parcel, located on the north side of New Chicago Road, extending to the south side of Spanish Street in Drytown. The commission will also have a public hearing on a request to split a 128.94-acre parcel into parcels of approximately 56, 36, and 37 acres in size. The applicant is Western Pacific Enterprises, Inc. and David Leea, and the parcel is on the north side of Curran Road approximately half a mile west of the most southerly junction of Curran Road and Camanche Road in the Camanche area. Another hearing could decide on a split request by Hilary Heijman and Charles Carroll. They propose splitting 26 acres into four parcels, with three a 5 acres each, one at 5.8 acres, and one at 5.2 acre. They also request “a variance from county code” that requires a “3:1 depth to width ratio for lots under 20 acres. The property is approximately 2,000 feet south of Highway 88 between Spagnoli Mine Road and Irishtown Road, bisected by Valley Vista Court in the Pine Grove area. Other splits include smaller lot splits in the Buckhorn and Pioneer areas. Another item is a request for zoning amendment under “General Provisions & Exceptions” and for temporary uses, seeking to satisfy “hardship situations, by adding provisions for temporary housing due to sudden reduction in income. The commission meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Supervisors’ chamber, 810 Court Street, in Jackson. For information, call the planning department at (209) 223-6380. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – The Amador County Transportation Commission announced an October schedule to start its 2010 Regional Transportation Plan Update. 4 public meetings, starting October 20th in Plymouth, will take public input for the update. ACTC Executive Director Charles Field told a Sutter Creek traffic ad hoc committee last week that the commission’s Computer Mapping Exercise tool, the CMX, may not be the solution for Sutter Hill. He said no Martell businesses pay CMX fees, because Amador County Supervisors did not require participation. Field said ACTC’s Regional Transportation Plan needs to be updated and is being updated. Foothill Conservancy’s Tom Infusino said ACTC had a great idea with the CMX, if it was approved “up front.” But the Martell developments do not participate. Field said the ACTC board of directors was worried about the CMX, that, “if we get this wrong, we’ll have the worst rural county in the state.” Councilman Pat Crosby, an ACTC board member, said “we are all trying to do the same thing, and that is to take care of traffic in this area.” He asked about putting Allen Ranch Road into the CMX matrix, because it “is the only road that decreases traffic in this area.” Field said Allen Ranch Road is not currently part of the CMX and he was “not sure it ever will be.” He said they could add more work, money and partners, but he wants to “finish swallowing the bite that we’ve taken,” then they can do Airport Road and Allen Ranch Road. He said “let’s finish the essential Martell area first.” Field said the next step of CMX is to lower its scope and “support alternate routes” to ease traffic and “avoid 7-lane intersections.” The Regional Transportation Plan update includes public meetings October 20th in Plymouth, October 22nd in Jackson, October 27th in Pine Grove, and October 28th in Ione. ACTC planner Neil Peacock invited said it will plan for the “region’s future transportation needs.” He said the Regional Traffic Plan will “forecast future traffic demands based on anticipated growth throughout the region, in order to plan infrastructure needed to avoid congestion.” He said it is “ACTC's primary responsibility to implement and regularly update the RTP in order to plan, prioritize, and fund transportation improvements of regional significance.” ACTC staff plan to have a group of “citizens and stakeholders” recommend “policies and priorities.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek – The Amador Water Agency board of directors on Thursday will look at staff studies of running a small diameter pipeline in the Upper Amador Canal. Engineer Erik Christeson in a report prepared for the meeting has requested the board to direct staff to continue evaluating pipeline options in the canal. Studies include funding, environmental review, engineering pre-design, hydrology, community workshops, easements and “development of an agricultural rate schedule as part of the financial update for the Amador Water System.” Last month, staff gave an overview of potential options that would allow continued water service to customers along the Upper Canal, between Lake Tabeaud and New York Ranch Reservoir. Christeson in the report said public health concerns were an issue and that AWA had signed a “compliance agreement” which “requires the agency to explore alternatives to eliminate untreated water service for customers that receive raw water for domestic use through the Amador Water System.” The agreement, signed with California Public Health in 2001 also required providing an “economic assessment of the feasibility of providing treated potable water through a piped distribution system.” The state was worried about customers using untreated water as domestic supply, and about high contamination levels of coliform and fecal coliform. Christeson said the existing canal lost “a significant amount of water to leakage, non-metered usage and evaporation.” A July analysis found 1.43 units of total metered raw water usage. On July 24th, the study found a total water loss of 3.5 cubic feet per second in the Upper Canal. Water entered at a rate of 4.88 cubic feet per second and flowed into New York Ranch Reservoir at a rate of 1.38 cubic feet per second. Christeson in the report offered 5 options for pipelines. Option 1 was a raw pipeline for the duration of the Upper Canal, costing $3.2 million, but California Public Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture both will not fund a raw water pipeline. Option 2 was a treated pipeline for the entire Upper Canal at a cost of $4.4 million. Option 3 was having both raw and treated, at a cost of $6.8 million. Options 4 was a treated line for the entire upper canal, except for a small raw line to Boggs and Marz properties, at a total cost of $4.4 million. The study said AWA is losing $136,000 annually in its operation of the Upper Canal. Customer rate revenue is $43,000 annually, while operations cost $179,000 a year. The study’s option 5 was no action and continued operation of the Upper Canal. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sutter Creek - Effective on the 1st of this month, the City of Sutter Creek adjusted the hours that it will be open to the public. The new hours will be Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am until 5 pm. They will be closed on Friday. This change will impact the public service counter and public phone numbers, but not Public Safety. Emergency Services will still be available. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.