NID Continues Community and Congressional Outreach on Mercury Remediation Project

Published on Feb 6, 2010 - 8:17:27 AM

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By: Susan Snider, YubaNet

Feb. 6, 2010 - During Nevada Irrigation District's board meeting last month (Jan. 27th), Assistant Manager Tim Crough shared a DVD he and others developed in the course of working on NID's mercury removal program at Lake Combie.

According to the video, 26 million pounds of mercury were brought to Sierra Nevada water sources during the era of hydraulic mining. Ten to 30 percent of this mercury ended up in the environment and continues to move through Sierra rivers with every storm event.

NID's canals and reservoirs lie downstream from many historic gold mining sites where mercury was used. Mercury-laden gravels have accumulated behind many dams in the Sierra, including the one impounding NID's Combie Reservoir.

When mercury is methylated by bacteria and subsequently ingested by phytoplankton at the bottom of the food chain, it eventually makes its way up the chain to large predator fish like striped bass. These fish typically register high levels of mercury -- and consumption of bass and other fish with similar levels of mercury can be hazardous to human health.

In the video, Crough describes how a dredging operation removes sediments from the reservoir and then transfers them to a land-based treatment plant. Here, heavy metals are separated from rock and sand. Mercury is sent to a safe disposal site while, most importantly, clean water is returned to the river. Remaining sediment is removed to an aggregate plant for use in construction.

Working with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Department of Fish and Game, and the State Water Quality Control Board on the initial project design, NID also coordinated its efforts with local property owners and ultimately the Placer County.

NID hopes that their Combie mercury removal project will benefit other water districts throughout the Sierra Nevada as well as aid scientists and agencies concerned about mercury in California's rivers. The project may also establish best management practices (BMPs) for sand mining and other dredging-related operations where mercury is present in river sediment.

"We are taking out far more mercury than we are releasing," Crough said later. "Remember, every time we have a storm, mercury is disturbed. What is released in our project is not any worse than a couple of bad storms -- and what is released has an insignificant effect compared to the overall benefit."

Lesa Osterholm, District Manager for the Nevada County Resource Conservation District, agrees with Crough. In the video, Osterholm states her organization supports the project because it improves local water supplies by removing sediments in Combie Reservoir, thus allowing for more water storage. At the same time, the project improves water quality by reducing mercury deposits downriver.

On a related note, General Manager Ron Nelson said he and Crough met recently with Senator Diane Feinstein's staff in San Francisco to discuss potential funding opportunities for NID's mercury removal project. According to Nelson, one option might be through appropriations in the 2011 federal EPA budget.

"We feel this is a very good public use of funds," Nelson said, referring to NID's project at Combie Reservoir. "We received great support from the Senator's staff on our mercury remediation project," he added.

The video on NID's Combie project may be accessed at www.nid.dst.ca.us/mercury-removal.cfm

Eminent Domain: Potentially "Imminent" for Some Nevada and Placer County Property Owners?

With three important infrastructure projects hanging in the balance, NID directors voted unanimously last week to issue formal Notices of Intent (NOI) to 17 property owners in Placer and Nevada counties. The notices serve as fair warning that the district board may authorize commencement of eminent domain proceedings at a future board meeting.

Currently, the district lacks right-of-way acquisitions from these property owners to begin construction of water system improvement projects on Cement Hill and Banner Mountain near Nevada City and the Mt. Vernon siphon project in Placer County.

Senior Right of Way Agent Matthew Crowe told directors that staff has made numerous efforts to negotiate the necessary easements and land acquisitions for these projects. While most negotiations resulted in agreements with property owners, Crowe noted that issues like construction schedules and federal grant funding necessitate sending out the NOIs.

"As always, we continue to be available for discussion with property owners," Crowe added. "This is not a point of departure from communicating with property owners."

Voicing concerns over impacts to existing mature trees along the Banner/Cascade pipeline route, Director Nancy Weber asked that engineering staff review and consider alternative options to tree removal.

NID 2010 Water Conservation Plan: A Consideration for Some, A Mandate for Others

Facing requirements by the state to both reduce treated water consumption by 2020 and develop agricultural water management plans by 2012, NID took an early step last week at achieving these goals. Unanimously approving the district's 2010 Water Conservation Plan, directors affirmed NID's commitment to an overall effort to conserve Sierra Nevada water resources.

Last November, a comprehensive water package approved by the state legislature included a bill calling for a 20 percent reduction in per capita treated water use by 2020. On the irrigated water side, while no reductions are mandated, agricultural water suppliers are now required to "measure water deliveries and adopt a pricing structure based at lease in part on quantity delivered, and, where technically and economically feasible, implement additional measures to improve efficiency."

Currently, only NID's treated water users have metered service.

NID's 2010 Water Conservation plan calls for adoption of best management practices (BMPs) for treated water per the California Urban Water Conservation Council. The district also plans to hold four workshops (two in Nevada County and two in Placer County) designed to help irrigation water customers be more efficient in their water use. The 2010 plan also includes continuing the district's soil monitoring program for vineyards and orchards in NID's service area.

Proposed South County Waterline Project Passes CEQA Hurdle

A unanimous vote by NID directors moved the Ranchero Treated Water Group closer to its goal of getting district water to 119 parcels in southern Nevada County. According to Associate Engineer Tonia Tabucchi Herrera, the project is in response from residents to replace or supplement well service and meet potable water demands during peak summer months.

The $6 million project would provide service to landowners within the service area consistent with NID's Lake of the Pines Treated Water Master Plan. In addition, the new treated water project would also enable NID to meet future treated water demands associated with development defined by the Nevada County General Plan.

If approved by area residents, the Ranchero Treated Water Group Project would be funded through the formation of an assessment or community funded district and construction could begin in 2011.

The next regular NID board meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on February 10 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID board meetings are open to the public.

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