Thursday, May 30, 2024
The large pond in the background of this overview shot of the Copper Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant and Reclamation Facility would be expanded under the enhancement project, according to CCWD officials. Courtesy photo/CCWD
A hefty chunk of federal change is heading to Calaveras County to help fund critical enhancements for local water district infrastructure in Copperopolis.
Calaveras County Water District (CCWD) officials recently confirmed that the district has secured $11.2 million from the Army Corps of Engineers in the 2024 federal budget with the dollars specifically earmarked for essential improvements at the Copper Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant and Reclamation Facility.
Part of the Section 219 Environmental Infrastructure program administered by the Army Corps, the monies tagged for this particular CCWD project constitute the largest allocation to a project in California for the year and the third largest nationwide allocation.
“We are still working with the Army Corps of Engineers on the final design and environmental review,” shared CCWD General Manager Michael Minkler. “There are multiple components to the project that will likely be phased in different construction contracts.”
The whole process has been at least five years in the making, according to Minkler. Since the monies are not technically a grant, but a federal budget appropriation, the extensive hoops to be jumped were all part of the legislative process.
With regard to the project, “CCWD is providing the design and engineering, the Corps will award the construction contracts, and then CCWD will be actively involved in construction management,” Minkler said. “It is a lengthy and complex process, but my hope is that the first significant construction contract will be awarded prior to the end of 2025.”
He further explained that CCWD is responsible for a 25% local match, but most, if not all, of the district’s share come in the form of engineering and construction management in-kind contributions.
“The project will replace an old filter that has been very problematic and will expand a treated effluent storage pond to ensure we have adequate capacity for the community,” Minkler continued. “Securing this funding also means we will have more funding available for other wastewater projects throughout the county, so it benefits all of CCWD’s sewer customers.”
While the district is still seeking an additional $3.1 million in federal funds to cover inevitable cost increases, Minkler said that if it is not able to secure those funds, it will still be able to make significant improvements to the facility, although it is likely that some aspects of the project would have to be scaled back.
District officials described the funding as both vital and a significant milestone toward safeguarding public and environmental health in the area of the Copper Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant, which currently serves approximately 2,000 sewer connections in Copperopolis, along Lake Tulloch on the Stanislaus River. Minkler said that the facility, which treats community wastewater and recycles water for irrigation, is in sore need of upgrades to replace aging infrastructure and remain compliant with regulatory standards.
With a third of the district’s service area classified as being economically disadvantaged, district officials noted the importance of being able to garner federal support for expensive projects that provide benefits beyond CCWD’s immediate project boundaries.
They added that they were extremely grateful to the late Sen. Diane Feinstein and Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler for their unwavering support through the allocation process, as well as Congressman Tom McClintock’s assistance and collaboration with the corps. The district also highlighted supportive efforts from Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, the Angels Camp City Council, and Calaveras County District 4 Supervisor Amanda Folendorf.
CCWD directors and legal affairs committee members, Jeff Davidson and Scott Ratterman, were also central to the multiyear effort toward securing the funding, according to Minkler. The two directors both acknowledged the district’s tenacity in the face of a highly competitive field of applicants from across the country that are often larger urban water agencies.
“We are always proactively seeking grant funds, in addition to legislative appropriations,” Minkler shared. In fact, he said, “We have several grant-funded projects underway right now and we just submitted another grant application to the (California) State Water Resources Control Board for an approximately $7 million critical upgrade to our Arnold Wastewater Treatment Plant. That project would normally be a very strong candidate for grant funding, but the state has significantly reduced the availability of funds due to the budget deficit, so there is heightened uncertainty and increased competition for every dollar of grant funding.”
He added, “We will continue to seek infrastructure funding wherever we can find it, and we are working with a consultant to make sure we’re not missing out on any funding opportunities.”
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