Board Meeting - March 12, 2008

March 12, 2008
Contact: Ron Nelson
(530) 273-6185
Or: Dave Carter
(530) 265-NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GRASS VALLEY - Directors of the Nevada Irrigation District on Wednesday (Mar. 12) postponed a decision on whether surplus irrigation water will be available this year to downstream growers.
Under contract with the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, NID has a right to purchase surplus water, but PG&E has not yet declared that surplus water will be available this year.
The water NID purchases as surplus is available at the lower end of the NID distribution system and is not available to district customers. Most of the surplus water is purchased by the South Sutter Water District.
NID Water Operations Manager Don Wight said he expects PG&E to make a determination by Apr. 1, based on current water supply information.
As of Mar. 1, the mountain snowpack contained 122 percent of average water content but early warm weather is causing snow to melt. Meanwhile, March has been dry and by Wednesday (Mar. 12) annual precipitation stood at just 87 percent of average.
Wight said the surplus water sale could mean about $400,000 in revenues to NID.
The board is expected to decide the issue in early April, which would allow downstream users time to plan for their seasons.

In other business, directors:

heard a presentation on NID’s wholistic approach to vegetation management, which has reduced herbicide use. Asst. Maintenance Supt. Bruce Early outlined a number of alternative methods of weed control that are showing promise. Among them are use of hot steam, or thermal weed control; vinegar and barley straw application, and goat and sheep grazing.
heard an update from General Manager Ron Nelson on a proposal to shift property tax revenues away from local agencies to help ease the state budget crunch. Nelson said water suppliers and special districts, including NID, are opposing such a measure.
heard an announcement from Division I Director Nancy Weber that area residents are invited to learn about the local water supply at a broadcast community forum presented by Nevada City radio station KVMR (89.5-FM). It will be held on Thursday, Mar. 20, 7-9 p.m., at Miners Foundry in Nevada City. NID General Manager Ron Nelson will be among the panel members.

The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors will be held at 9 a.m. on Mar. 26 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID board meetings are open to the public.