Amador County – Sutter Gold Mining, Inc. (SGM) recently received a key approval required in the process towards converting its Sutter Creek tourist facility into a working gold mine known as the Lincoln Project.

The company announced Thursday it has received regulatory approval of the revised Wetlands Delineation which, according to a release, “identified 1.02 acres of seasonal wetlands and other waters within the ‘Area of Potential Effect’ (approximately 95 acres) where surface disturbance associated with the Lincoln Project may occur.” The approval comes in the form of a Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (JD) from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

In total, SGM “estimates this project will impact only 0.75 acres of wetlands and other waters in the vicinity.” This a a significant reduciton from previous development concepts that would have impacted 0.99 and 1.97 acres. SGM said this signifies its efforts to “continuously improve the Lincoln Project design, reducing the environmental footprint as Sutter advances the design to construction and production.”

SGM also recently received the results of a contracted study by Berryman Ecological that concludes the Lincoln Project will not impact any locally identified species on the Endangered Species Act. Another assessment conducted by Analytical Environmental Sciences concluded no historic properties in the area will be impacted in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act.

The company estimates the permitting process will be completed no later than the beginning of next year.

Among other activities, SGM opened an office in May in downtown Sutter Creek next to the Sutter Creek Palace to provide a working area for its expanding mine staff.

SGM controls over three miles of Mother Lode property, 90 percent of which has yet to be explored. The most recent resource estimate for the Sutter Gold Project indicates that a collective 700,000 ounces of gold could possibly be extracted from this area. Most of the potential gold extraction exists along the Melones Fault in the eastern portion of SGM’s property and mineral holdings.

SGM said in a previous report it is “utilizing engineering consultants to supplement its experienced management and staff to design the processing facilities, tailings handling and backfilling to create a state-of-the-art, environmentally sound mining project.”

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Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday approved a $5,000 study of isotopes related to a suspected seepage area below one of its sewer treatment ponds on the bank of Sutter Creek, with the city hoping the findings prove to be conclusive enough to state regulators.

The council authorized City Manager Kim Kerr to sign a contract for $4,973 with Hydrofocus Incorporated to conduct the isotope study on the water in Sutter Creek, above and below the suspected seepage area on the bank, where dampness has been seen for years. Kerr said the source of the water could not be conclusively known until the study was done.

She said city records show the seepage on the wall of the bank of Sutter Creek has been a known phenomenon since at least 2001, and no one has ever been “willing to say what the water is.” The Regional Water Quality Control Board considers it seepage until it is proven inconclusively that its source is something other than the sewer pond.

Kerr said the “isotope study will tell you where the water comes from.” She said “one way or the other, we have to have this answered.” If they don’t, they will need a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit, for incidental discharging.

City Attorney Kristen Castanos said the city is not sure that the Regional Board would issue an NPDES permit for the incidental discharge, because staff has not spoken to them about that.

It would increase city monitoring requirements. The city now pays about $30,000 a year in monitoring tests at Castle Oaks’ sewer pond system. Kerr said monitoring costs with an NPDES permit “would be higher, and would be in perpetuity.”

City Engineer John Wanger said the outcome of the isotope study findings depends on the belief of the Regional Board, which wants the source of the water on the creek bank proven beyond the shadow of a doubt.

He said environmental groups are saying that wastewater treatment plants are degrading waterways, while on the other hand, municipalities are trying to serve their cities’ needs.

Wanger said they “must determine if it’s naturally occurring ground water, or if it is seepage being forced out by water pressure of the pond.”

The council also approved an emergency repair of a leak on Pond 6 caused by rodents.

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors voted to amend its agreement with Amador County on a $900,000 loan, with a proposed eight-month deferral of the repayment.

Supervisor John Plasse and County Counsel Martha Shaver spoke to the board. Shaver urged them to seek an outside loan to pay off the county “Water Development Fund” loan, if the AWA decides it will not continue with the Gravity Supply Line project.

General Manager Gene Mancebo met with Plasse and the county water committee to discuss the amendment, which, if approved by Supervisors, would allow the AWA to repay the loan August 31st, 2011, instead of December 31st.

The agreement has wording to enact a “maturity date” 75 days after certain triggers, including if the “AWA board of directors takes any action to delay or terminate the (Gravity Supply Line) Project.”

Another trigger is if the “AWA has elected to delay or terminate the project, or cease to pursue obtaining the grant for the project.” At third trigger is if “any other act has occurred that will prevent AWA from receiving funds from the grant, including any acts or omissions occurring prior to” execution of the amendment. Supervisors must also approve the agreement.

The board approved the amendment on a 3-2 vote with President Bill Condrashoff and Vice President Debbie Dunn against. On the same vote, they directed Finance Manager Mike Lee to investigate outside loans and conditions, should the agency need to pay the loan by the end of the year. Lee said it would take a couple of weeks.

Director Don Cooper said members of the Central Amador Water Project, who met Wednesday in a quarterly meeting, were in favor of further studying the Gravity Supply Line. He said “retailers want to pay the $69,000 to get the ball rolling on the project,” and determine whether to proceed with the GSL, for which the AWA has applied for a $5 million grant, to build a new, gravity-powered water pipeline to Buckhorn water plant. They also want to see the costs to customers, which he said may be shown in a financial plan at the next budget meeting.

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Sacramento - The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to upgrade its statewide stormwater management program, and exert stronger controls over stormwater discharges from its road construction and maintenance sites.

The Clean Water Act enforcement action follows a series of EPA field audits of four Northern California Caltrans districts. Accompanied by State and Regional Water Board representatives, EPA inspected numerous Caltrans construction and maintenance sites, and found violations of the California-issued stormwater permit designed to protect the State's water resources from polluted stormwater runoff.

“The protection of our waters is one of EPA's major priorities, and limiting the damage done by stormwater from construction sites is a key goal,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator for EPA Pacific Southwest. “We urge Caltrans to join us in the fight for improved water quality by controlling its stormwater runoff.”

Caltrans manages approximately 50,000 miles of California highway and freeway lanes across its 12 districts. Stormwater runoff from Caltrans roads and facilities contain pollutants such as metals, sediment, oil, grease, pesticides and trash.

“Our action compels Caltrans to strengthen its stormwater program at all levels of the organization if it is to successfully protect California's rivers and streams,” said Alexis Strauss, Water Division Director for EPA's Pacific Southwest Region. “We will ensure full compliance with this enforcement action, and continue to evaluate Caltrans implementation statewide under the current and forthcoming stormwater permit.”

Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, and swimming. As authorized by the Clean Water Act, NPDES permits regulate the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States. Specifically, stormwater runoff is a primary cause of water quality impairments. Since 2001, EPA Region 9 has conducted over 50 audits of municipal stormwater programs, including state Departments of Transportation.

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Amador County - Recent downpours of rain hint that the seasonal closure of Eldorado National Forest dirt roads could happen sooner than January 1st, if conditions are right. October and early November rains were intense at times and Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo says the roadbeds held up well enough to keep the routes open for now. New storms may change that situation.

“The annual seasonal dirt road closure begins no later than January 1st, however, a soaking precipitation, with an outlook for more, could bring that about sooner.” says Villalvazo. “Precipitation, soil moisture, road and trail conditions, and weather forecasts are factors that can trigger an earlier closure. We’ll be checking the routes regularly to determine when to start the seasonal closure.”

Once the routes are seasonally closed, they will remain closed until at least April 1st.

“My desire is to keep the Forest as accessible to the public as possible,” said Villalvazo. “The seasonal closure is designed to protect roadbeds and watersheds from damage and to maintain good water quality.”

Roads subject to closure are identified on a map that is free-of-charge and available at all Eldorado National Forest offices. The seasonal closure does not affect routes in the Rock Creek area of the Eldorado, near Georgetown, as it has its own route closure process.

Visitors are encouraged to check the Eldorado National Forest website for information about the seasonal road closure: www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado.

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Amador County – The Amador County Recreation Agency put the finishing touches on a nine-hole flying disc golf course on Wednesday with the placement of sponsor signage on the tee pads of the golf course at Mollie Joyce Park in Pioneer.

Fundraising and donations have paid for nearly all of the costs. Program Director Matt Nestor estimated about $15,000 from seven businesses in Amador County has gone into the disc golf course so far, not counting his hours worked on the project.

The Jackson Rancheria was the main donor, purchasing nine of the baskets used in the game, played like golf, but with a Frisbee-type flying disc. Brandon and Jamie Wedge at Play It Again Sports sponsored a tenth basket. Nestor said the Disc Golf Association gave the agency a discount of 10 percent on the purchase.

The signs themselves were also built and donated by Kam Merzlak of Merzlak Signs, and the sign posts were donated by Ferguson Plumbing. Justin Agustin of Agustin Custom Cabinetry donated auger work with his Bobcat at the site, and also welded the signs onto their posts. Nestor mounted the sponsor signs into the ground on Wednesday with concrete.

Lynch’s Auto donated a bulldozer and the clearing of large swaths of scrub oak, weeds and manzanitas to build the fairways for the golf course. Pine Grove CYA fire camp crews also did some clearing at the park last year. Another sponsor, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, has loaned baskets to ACRA for the last three years, including for a tournament at Kennedy Mine. Kirkwood also donated mounting sleeves for the baskets.

Nestor plans to try to get another nine holes set up by way of creating alternate basket settings on the front nine. This would allow for the planning of a tournament. He said ACRA is shooting for a tournament on Martin Luther King Day in January, 2011.

At least a dozen local and regional disc golfers helped design the course, which is planned to have a trail system. A trail now leads from the Mollie Joyce Nature Center to the park, where two baseball fields have been reclaimed from being grown over with weeds.

Plans include a weekly tournament at the course, most likely on Saturdays, and the course is open to play for free, seven days a week, when the park is open.

Nestor said volunteers interested in helping with the disc golf course can call him at ACRA at (209) 223-6349.

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Amador County – The highest-ranking officers of the state’s Veterans of Foreign Wars department will visit Winton in Merced County this weekend to meet with member from local posts and discuss issues facing District 13.

District 13 is home to one of the highest concentrations of veterans in California. It encompasses Amador, Calaveras, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties.

The annual visit will feature local representatives like Barbara Wieland, President of the Amador County VFW Ladies Auxiliary, who said she will go if weather permits. Wieland said top issues for her group include increasing membership, funding and putting together packages to send to troops oversees.

In attendance will be Denis Wells, VFW State Commander and Judy Jones, Ladies Auxiliary State President. Both are expected to discuss the state of veteran’s affairs on a state level, as well as specific plans to better serve veterans in local communities.

Wells joined the VFW after serving in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years, retiring as a master sergeant. He served two tours of duty at Tuy Hoa Airbase in the Republic of Vietnam, assigned as an airborne firefighter/rescue man on the H43 helicopter. He joined the VFW in 1985 at Post 7792 in Winton. He became a lifetime member in 1986. He served as one of only five All State District Commanders from 1997-1998. He also currently serves as the District 13 Assistant Quartermaster and the Post Service Officer.

Jones has been an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary since February 1990. She is considered a leading activist for the continuance and adoption of veteran entitlements. She is also a member of the Auxiliary of Disabled American Veterans and the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Unit 106.

The visit takes place November 19-21 at the VFW Post 7792 at 7093 Walnut Avenue in Winton. The proceedings start Friday at 6 p.m. with a dinner and awards ceremony.

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Amador County – Two new “apps” for iPhone or Android mobile devices are providing citizens with a more efficient way to report conditions needing attention in their area.

Both applications were created in response to the popularity of applications for mobile devices, which are easy to download and can help users perform specific tasks or follow interests.

The City of Jackson recently worked with App-Order.com to create an application that will allow residents or visitors to use their “mobile devices to report conditions needing city attention such as potholes, water leaks, graffiti and other neighborhood enhancement items,” according to the city’s website. Users can snap a photo of the problem, add a description and then send it to the city. The application is called “myJackson” and can be found either in the iTunes store for the iPhone or the Android store for phones based on this software platform.

Another application called “Creek Watch” was also released recently. It was developed by the State Water Resources Council as a way for concerned citizens to monitor local watersheds by snapping a photo and providing information. It was developed because in many regions, creeks are too numerous to be effectively monitored by local water boards. “Whenever you pass by a waterway, spend a few seconds using the ‘Creek Watch’ application to snap a picture and report how much water and trash you see,” says IBM, the applications’ creator.

Water officials have billed the technology as “water quality wherever they go.” The “app” asks users to provide a picture along with data including the amount of water, flow rates and the amount of trash.

According to Christine Robson of IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose, “ ‘Creek Watch’ lets the average citizen contribute to the health of their water supply - without PhDs, chemistry kits, and a lot of time.”

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