May 14, 2008
Contact: Ron Nelson
(530) 273-6185
Or: Dave Carter
(530) 265-NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
GRASS VALLEY - The Nevada Irrigation District’s
Elizabeth L. George Water Treatment Plant on Banner Mountain will receive a
significant upgrade, under plans approved Wednesday (May 14) by the NID Board of
Directors.
The district plans to expand the plant’s capacity from 10 million gallons per
day (mgd) to 21 mgd, with an ultimate design capacity of 24 mgd. Additional
water quality and reliability improvements also are part of the project.
The water system improvement project is expected to commence this summer and
take about two years.
The E. George plant, one of seven treatment plants operated by the district,
supplies about 5400 homes and businesses in and around Nevada City and Grass
Valley.
As part of the approval, directors accepted environmental studies and a
mitigation monitoring program. NID staff worked with area residents and Nevada
County Master Gardeners in developing an extensive landscaping and noise control
plan for the project.
“I think the people around the plant are very happy with what we’re going to
do,” said Division I Director Nancy Weber, who represents the area.
In other business, directors:
- discussed this year’s invasion of non-native Quagga
and zebra mussels which have been found in 17 California reservoirs, but
none in this area. The mussels were the subject of an educational workshop
hosted by the district on Tuesday (May 13) and attended by 22 people. NID is
focusing on public education and prevention in efforts to keep the invasive
species out of local waterways.
- voted, in a related matter, to oppose Assembly Bill
2065, unless amended, which would give state Fish & Game broader powers in
inspection and controls of the mussels. Directors joined the Association of
California Water Agencies (ACWA) in seeking assurances that potentially high
costs of the program could be transferred to local agencies such as NID.
- accepted a $100,000 Prop. 84 grant from the Sierra
Nevada Conservancy for an innovative pilot project to remove Gold Rush-era
mercury from the Bear River at Combie Reservoir. The grant will fund
environmental studies and permits. District official anticipate further
grants to fund the project.
The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors
will be held at 9 a.m. on May 28 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID
board meetings are open to the public.