LAKEPORT >> After multiple attempts to lift the urgency ordinance and connection moratorium on the Paradise Valley Water System failed, the operation will be consolidated with the Clearlake Oaks County Water District (CLOCWD).
According to Lake County Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger, the system “has been challenged with capacity issues … since 2004,” which resulted in the urgency ordinance and moratorium.
Additional wells have been drilled in attempt to remedy the lack of water supply, but to no avail.
Other than consolidation, building a surface water treatment plan was considered an option that might permanently solve the issue. However, the expense cut the appeal of this plan.
“The operations and maintenance costs … would be very high for all customers,” Dellinger said.
The CLOCWD has sufficient supply to accommodate the 75 connections in the Paradise Valley Water System.
In order to consolidate the water systems, a total of 1.8 miles of pipeline must be installed within Highway 20. This means an encroachment permit from Caltrans must be obtained, as a highway overlay project is underway in the same area.
“Once a paving project is completed, there will be a moratorium on any work that will involve cutting into the highway,” Dellinger explained.
Caltrans has agreed to include the pipeline installation in their project scheduled as long as the undertaking does not cause any delays.
A grant request totaling nearly $1.4 million was approved by the California Department Water Resources last year, which will cover the cost of the project.
A 25 percent cash match is required by the grant agreement, which totals $419,000. James Berger of Brookwood Land Management, LLC, has agreed to pay the cash match, in exchange for a will-serve letter. Berger has planned to develop in the district, but has been unable to because of the connection moratorium.
“This is a project that needs to happen,” CLOCWD Board of Directors Vice President Richard Kuehn said. “ It has been a long time and the funding is there.”
The will-serve letter was a point of contention for Kuehn, who said the board is concerned about being obligated to supply water, as the district is approaching its maximum water allotment from the Yolo County Flood Control District.
Berger said he does not expect to receive services if there is not adequate supply, but he wanted assurance that he will be served if there is.
A total of five agreements regarding the consolidation were presented to the board, including contracts for archaeological services from Pacific Legacy, Inc, for a total of $37,000; engineering services from MC Engineering for a total of $37,800 and pipeline installation with O.C. Jones and Sons in the amount of $840,000.
All property, assets and responsibilities belonging to the Paradise Valley Water System will be transferred to CLOCWD when finalized.
The board unanimously approved all agreements for the consolidation, contingent upon the addition of language to the will-serve letter.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
