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Council approves Task Order 9 to explore secondary well source after Darby-era disruption
Summary
City approved a task order with Lewis & Associates to identify and test potential well sites as a secondary water source, citing a 2021 state requirement for small water systems and long-term supply concerns after the Darby fire.
The Angels Camp City Council on Oct. 7 approved a task order with Lewis and Associates to explore and, if feasible, develop a secondary water source for the city, including exploratory geophysics and test drilling.
“What you have before you this evening is a, a resolution, a task order for, exploring secondary water sources,” Aaron, the project presenter, told the council, describing a multi-step program of desktop analysis, lidar, geophysics and targeted drilling to identify a well that could supply the treatment plant.
Why it matters: presenters said the city's primary conveyance is vulnerable when flumes and upstream conveyances are damaged, as occurred during the Darby fire; state law passed in 2021 requires small water systems to develop secondary sources.
Scope and approach: Lewis and Associates explained its approach—lidar to identify geomorphic linements and potential fracture zones, surface geophysics (gamma-ray surveys and microseismic monitoring) to focus targets, followed by aquatic surveys and exploratory drilling. Presenter Mike Hardy, a hydrogeologist, described the method used on a similar Sierra Tahoe project to narrow high-probability drilling sites.
Timeline and decision points: the consultant estimated the initial desktop tasks (tasks 1 and 2) could be completed in about nine weeks; geophysics and field work roughly six weeks; and a preliminary data analysis and presentation in another three weeks. The firm said drilling operations depend on weather and permitting; if seasonal snow prevents fall drilling, crews would resume in spring. “Task 1 and 2 can be done within a 9 week period once you get the thumbs up,” Aaron said.
Capacity goals and thresholds: council members asked how much water would be useful. Staff said the city treatment plant capacity is roughly 1,440 gallons per minute; consultants said an operational target of roughly 800–1,000 gpm from a redundant source would be meaningful for resiliency. The project is staged so later, costly tasks would proceed only if earlier geophysics and partial technical memoranda indicate adequate probability of success.
Cost, funding and oversight: the task order was included in the council packet as an FY2025–26 capital project. The consultant said further tasks (test drilling and well development) would require separate council authorization pending results. No drilling contract was approved at this meeting; council directed staff to return with a progress report before approving expensive drilling phases.
Action: Council member motioned to approve the resolution authorizing Task Order 9; council recorded aye votes and approved the task order to proceed to the geophysics and early field work stages.
