NEWS RELEASE CALAVERAS COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES City of Angels - Union Public Utility District - Calaveras County Water District RELEASED BY: Clayton H. Hawkins, Director/Chief Officer CONTACT: Debbie Ponte Mayor, City of Angels (209)736-0888   RELEASE DATE:  September 14, 2001 TIME: 1415 UPDATE EMERGENCY SUPPLY PROJECTS      Water projects to immediately increase the distribution of water to the communities of Murphys, Vallecito, Douglas Flat, Carson Hill, Six Mile Village, and Angels Camp continue to make progress. Today, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) crews are cutting dozer lines and brush to clear a path for a hose which will reroute water from the Calaveras County Water District's (CCWD) water hydrants in Forest Meadows to the Union Public Utility District's (UPUD) water canal distribution system. Yesterday, water reached the Cademorti Reservoir in Murphys which completed the first phase of the project. This project will increase the water supply to the communities of Murphys, Vallecito, Douglas Flat, Carson Hill, Six Mile Village, and Angels Camp.      Secondly, Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services (OES) and CDF officials are using water trucks to haul water to UPUD's Afterbay in Murphys which leads into Ross Reservoir. This will ensure that safe drinking water will be available to the affected communities.      CCWD has two locations (Ebbetts Pass and Copperopolis) where commercial, industrial and agricultural users may access potable water. Users must have at least a 1000 gallon or greater capacity water truck. To fill a water truck, commercial, industrial and agricultural users should call CCWD at 754-3543 for an appointment or more information.      Thanks to the Kautz family, the Bret Harte Center well at the California Highway Patrol's (CHP) Truck Scale on Hwy. 4 in Murphys is available to residents in need of nonpotable water for residential landscaping, gardens and general irrigation. Residents should bring containers with a capacity from five to fifty gallons.      In Angels Camp, the "Schmauder - Tryon Mine" project is progressing. State required water quality tests have been taken and results are expected within five to seven days. It is anticipated that this site will pump water from an underground water source through an abandoned mine shaft. State and local water officials are coordinating efforts to ensure that the water is safe for drinking and all water quality standards are upheld.      Engineering and construction planning continues for the implementation of the "Calaveras Cement Slurry Line" project which will redirect Calaveras Public Utility District (CPUD) water from San Andreas to Ross Reservoir. This project will increase the water supply in Angels Camp. The City of Angels is also exploring the possibility of drilling new wells to provide additional water.      "The Overland Pipe Project" has completed engineering plans and will soon begin laying an overland pipe system rather than drilling and extracting water from an underground water source. Meanwhile, the State Department of Water Resources (SDWR) is assisting County OES and water district personnel to plan for the permanent reconstruction of the flume. The timeframe for the reconstruction of the flume is unknown but anticipated to be long term.      Due to time constraints and regulatory issues involving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a previously identified project known as the "Adit 4 Tunnel Tap," is not currently being pursued. The Adit 4 Tunnel Tap project would have involved drilling down approximately 360 ft. to tap into an existing underground water conveyance system and water source.      The community is invited to a Public Meeting on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 7:00 P.M. at the Bret Harte High School gymnasium in Angels Camp. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the status of the Darby Fire and emergency water projects. Representatives from the City of Angels, CDF, County OES, UPUD, CCWD, among others, will be available to provide an update and answer questions.      Extreme water conservation measures remain in effect. Conservation is very important to ensuring that there is an adequate water supply. The public must keep up the good work by continuing to cut their usage by 50 percent.      Residents may wish to contact their homeowner or renter insurance carriers to inquire about possible coverage for fire related personal losses or property damage.      The public is reminded that as emergency water projects are explored more in depth, plans may change and additional projects may emerge. The multi-agency emergency recovery efforts are committed to providing safe water to residents in Murphys, Vallecito, Douglas Flat, Carson Hill, Six Mile Village and Angels Camp.      Residents who have concerns about water should contact their individual water districts for more information. For more information contact: For more information contact:      Union Public Utility District: 209-728-3651      City of Angels: 209-736-2181      Calaveras County Water District: 209-754-3543 Serving the communities of Murphys, Douglas Flat, Carson Hill, Six Mile Village, Frogtown, and the City of Angels to Calaveras County Government Services