AUBURN --Directors of the Placer County Water Agency on Thursday (Mar. 4) awarded a $515,006.70 construction contract for the Bella Tuscany Pipeline and Tank Site Project near the Black Oak Golf Course in North Auburn.

 Doug Veerkamp General Engineering of El Dorado Hills was awarded the bid among the 20 bids received by the water agency.

 The project includes about 2600 feet of 12-inch diameter pipeline to connect the recently constructed Bella Tuscany storage tank to the PCWA water system, along with a number of tank site and road improvements.   The project is the final portion of water system infrastructure needed that will allow water service to properties within the area.   Although residential development of the Bella Tuscany property has stalled, PCWA officials said the public water project will benefit many other properties in the area, including some that have had well problems.

 PCWA Director of Technical Services Brian Martin said plans call for construction to begin in April, with completion by this fall.

 In other business, directors:
 • Snow surveys on March 1st of four snow courses ranging in elevation from 5,700 to 6,300 feet have revealed that the mountain snowpack above French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs holds 107 percent of average water content for this time of year.  In the days following the snow surveys, it is expected that storms that have occurred have increased the snow depth and water content even more.

 • heard updates from Director of Administrative Services Valerie Lord and governmental affairs consultant Jason Larrabee on state and federal legislative efforts. 

 • heard an update from Power System Manager Steve Jones on improvements planned this year on the PCWA Middle Fork American River Project, including a major project to widen and upgrade the spillway on L.L. Anderson Dam at French Meadows Reservoir.

The next regular meeting of the PCWA Board of Directors will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 18, at the PCWA Business Center, 144 Ferguson Road, in Auburn.  PCWA board meetings are open to the public.

 Information on PCWA board meetings may be obtained through the Clerk to the Board at (530) 823-4850 or (800) 464-0030.