NID OKs $5 million contract to replace eight flumes on DS Canal near Nevada City

Directors of the Nevada Irrigation District on Wednesday (Feb. 10) awarded contracts for two major water-system improvement projects in western Nevada County.

 The board approved a $4.97 million contract with T&S Construction Co., Inc. of Sacramento for replacement of eight old wood and metal flumes on the DS Canal near Nevada City.

 The company was awarded a design-and-build contract for the project in 2006 but construction has been delayed by challenges to project environmental studies. Meanwhile, because of capacity issues, downstream areas served by the canal remain affected by a freeze on new and larger raw water services. NID anticipates construction to begin this year.

 NID built the DS Canal in 1926-28 to carry water into the Grass Valley-Nevada City area from Scotts Flat Reservoir. The remaining eight flumes are the last of the 31 original flumes on the system.

 Directors also awarded a $1.35  million contract to Hansen Brothers Enterprises, Inc. of Grass Valley for a water project near Lake of the Pines.

 Hansen Brothers was the lowest among four bidders on the Rodeo Flat Pipeline Project, which includes a new pump station and about 8,000 feet of water lines off Rodeo Flat Road west of Combie Road. 

 Project costs will be shared by 36 property owners who formed an assessment district to pay for the new water supply and NID, which needs a pump station to serve surrounding areas as well as the participating property owners.

 NID project engineer Keane Sommers said construction is anticipated to begin in March and take five to six months.

 In other business, directors:

• heard a presentation from Lesa Osterholm, district manager of the Nevada County Resource Conservation District, who described a federal program that helps agricultural water users with water-use efficiency improvements.  She suggested NID and the district could work together to obtain financial assistance for local agriculturalists. Directors voiced support for the concept and asked for further study by the board’s Water and Hydroelectric Operations Committee.

 • heard an update from General Manager Ron Nelson on funding efforts for the proposed pilot project to remove Gold Rush era mercury from the Bear River at Combie Reservoir. Nelson said the district had requested federal funding through Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office and is asking for up to $8 million over several years. “We’re confident we’ll get favorable consideration,” Nelson said.