The first phase of a new surface water discharge outlet into the San Joaquin River to drain storm water from south of the 120 Bypass may go out to bid Tuesday.

The Manteca City Council when they meet at 6 p.m. are being asked to approve calling for bids for the construction of the outfall 3,000 feet west of the western end of Woodward Avenue.

It will be located near Aplicella Court at the former Oakwood Lake Water District corporation yard.

Besides the outfall structure, the first phase includes a 48-inch forced main to carry stormwater runoff along the toe of the Reclamation District 17 levee. It will go from a pump station near Woodward Avenue and Aplicella Court to the new outfall structure.

There is a small window that is being allowed by state water agencies for in-water construction that can only occur from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31.

The future phase will include the pump station required to pump water from the 66-inch gravity line for storm water developers have been required to place beneath Woodward Avenue thru the 48 inches force main to the outfall discharge point.

Once the second phase is completed, there will be no need for unimproved temporary storm retention basins developers have created so that home building could take place in parts of southwest Manteca.

The final design of the outfall was delayed by the need to know what improvements will be made to the levee for 200-year flood protection.

Manteca north of the 120 Bypass drains water into the French Camp Outlet that is part of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District system that runs along the railroad tracks on Manteca’s border with the City of Lathrop.

It continues northward to the French Camp area where stormwater is dropped into the San Joaquin River via an outfall.

The city is in the process of identifying improvements such as wider culverts underneath roads at places like Louise Avenjue that is needed to accommodate additional storm runoff as the city grows.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.con