March 26, 2008
Contact: Ron Nelson
(530) 273-6185
Or: Dave Carter
(530) 265-NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
GRASS VALLEY - Directors of the Nevada Irrigation
District voted Wednesday (Mar. 26) to make surplus irrigation water available
this year to downstream growers.
NID Water Operations Manager Don Wight requested the approval after receiving
word from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company that 15,000 to 20,000 acre-feet
of surplus PG&E water would be available to NID.
Under contract with PG&E, the water is delivered to NID at the Wise Powerhouse
near the bottom of NID’s service area. The water is not available to other
sections of the district, Wight noted.
Most of the surplus water is purchased from NID by the South Sutter Water
District to supply farms and ranches that have to rely on groundwater when the
surplus surface water is not available.
Wight said surplus water is sold at a rate 25 percent higher than rates paid by
district customers. He said the sale would generate up to $400,000 in revenues,
benefit the environment by moving more water through Auburn Ravine, and benefit
agricultural production in downstream areas.
Wight said the early declaration of surplus would be helpful to downstream
farmers and ranchers in planning and planting for this irrigation season.
In other business, directors:
- accepted an independent audit of the district for
2007 and authorized publication of the district’s financial statements.
Ralph Marcello, a partner in the certified public accounting firm Nicholson
& Olson in Roseville, said the district’s financial records are being kept
in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices and fairly
reflect the district’s financial position.
- awarded an $882,700 engineering services contract to
Carollo Engineers, a nationwide water engineering firm with offices in
Sacramento, for the planned expansion of the Loma Rica Water Treatment
Plant.
- amended the district’s employee health insurance plan
to ensure continued coverage for surviving dependents of retirees, whose
benefits were not clarified in earlier documentation.
- heard an update from General Manager Ron Nelson and
consultant Jim Lynch of Devine Tarbell & Associates on the district program
to obtain a new federal license for the Yuba-Bear Power Project. NID plans
to officially open a five-year process in April with the filings of a Notice
of Intent (NOI) and Pre-Application Document (PAD) with the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission.
- nominated Ron Perea of Truckee as a special district
representative to the Nevada County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors
will be held at 9 a.m. on Apr. 9 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID
board meetings are open to the public.