Calaveras County Audit Report

Regular monitoring of the water quality at the Bridge in West Point, by various members of the Upper Mokelumne Watershed Authority, consistently reveals above normal levels of e-coli bacterial contaminants. These levels exceed those detected at current monitoring sites further upstream.

Septic tanks and leach lines, on numerous parcels in the vicinity of the Barney Way and Charles Street area, are located at or near water level along the River 9 just upstream from the Bridge in West Point. The Bridge site also receives drainage from nearby culverts and rainwater runoff from Highway 26.

Many of the approximately 60 developed parcels, in the vicinity of the Barney Way and Charles Street areas that surround the River, have gone from part-time seasonal use to full-time occupancy in recent years. In addition, there are currently no mandated septic tank cleaning and inspection requirements for Calaveras County parcel owners.

The Grand Jury recognizes there are no quick or inexpensive fixes to completely remedy the septic tank and leach line problems that appear to at least partially contribute to the e-coli contamination along the identified section of the River. The financial impact on local parcel owners, without help from grants or other creative financing options, would be very costly. In addition, the West Point Waste Water Treatment Plant and Wilseyville Solid Waste Treatment Plants are located close-by.

The Bridge area has become an informal recreational site where people congregate for swimming, fishing and other water related activities. In addition, East Bay MUD also treats and stores these waters downstream for use by its Bay Area customers.