The 23-mile Amador Canal, rendered largely obsolete by last year's completion of the Amador Transmission Pipeline, continues to pose complex questions for the Amador Water Agency and the landowners along its circuitous route.

"I don't think you know exactly what you want to do with your project," said Jerry Soderston, one of the many people directly affected by any decisions made regarding the canal. "I have requested specific information," she continued, "and have received only general replies."

Soderston was one of a number of affected property owners who spoke at Thursday morning's meeting of the AWA Board of Directors, which was pondering approval of an addendum to the revised final environmental impact report for the transmission pipeline project.

Already approved in the project is installation of a small diameter pipe to convey raw water from Lake Tabeaud to properties that have historically drawn water from the 150-year-old canal. There are decisions still to be made about the size of the pipe and what, if anything, to do with it once it's installed.

The stated purpose of the addendum is to provide additional options to the property owners involved. As approved in the addendum, there are now four options:

- Leave the pipe uncovered in the canal

- Bury the pipe in the canal under soil to berm grade, ipso facto creating a road

- Bury the pipe in the berm, leaving the canal unfilled

- Bury the pipe in the berm and fill the canal to berm grade.

AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie estimates the number of property owners who will be offered a choice of these options to be 125. Each of the properties along the canal offers a unique situation, so that no one scenario fits all.

Much of Thursday's meeting was devoted to the mystery swirling around Jackson Creek. A report and photo sent to the AWA earlier in the month by Jackson City Manager Mike Daly showed the creek to be bone dry at a point just above the city's wastewater treatment plant.

"We were told that there is no flow," said AWA Manager of Engineering and Planning Gene Mancebo, "but there is water flowing." Mancebo produced a montage of maps with photos taken on various days at numbered locations along the three forks of Jackson Creek.

The photo from Daly was taken on Aug. 14, showing no flow, while a photo taken on the 21st showed a rather substantial flow and a photo taken on the 28th showed no flow again. Discussion ensued, but no explanation was offered.

What this has to do with the canal lies in a continuing contention by long-standing opponents of the dewatering of the canal. They argue that canal flow directly contributes to water flow in Jackson Creek, purportedly through established leaks.

AWA District 1 candidate Bill Condrashoff presented a graph depicting canal flow, rainfall and Jackson Creek flow for this year. Condrashoff expressed certainty that the canal flow and the creek flow were inextricably entwined.

Founder of the anti-pipeline group, Preserve Historic Amador Waterways, David Evitt got into a contentious discussion with the directors and staff over his rights as a citizen during public comment.

AWA Board Chairman John Swift told Evitt, "You've already cost the agency millions of dollars."

Following public comment, AWA Director Terry Moore said, "I support the rights of the landowners, but I do not support opening Pandora's box to creation of a new EIR."

After sequentially echoing Moore's sentiment, the members of the board unanimously voted to approve the addendum.

There was good news at the meeting from AWA Finance Manager Michael Lee. "We've obtained grants for about $3.8 million over the last four years," Lee said. He added that the climate for grants has become very competitive, but the agency is actively pursuing a long list of grant possibilities.

Moore asked if there is a federal program for tank replacement, to which Lee replied, "That is probably one of the least likely. There's no budget for tank replacement."