Severe damage to infrastructure owned by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) at Lake Spaulding has effectively cut off water supplies to NID.

The situation will impact deliveries to all NID customers (raw water and treated water customers in Nevada and Placer counties) and have severe effects on lake levels and recreation opportunities this summer. Also, hydroelectric generation will be affected by the water restrictions.

It is imperative that the partial flows are established by June 12. Otherwise, the District is at significant risk of running out of water for both treated water and agricultural uses. Facing a significant water shortage will cause hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of damage to the communities NID serves.

The District is currently requesting voluntary 20 percent conservation by all customers. The lack of access to normal watershed runoff means the District will need to rely upon limited water storage to begin the irrigation season, starting on April 15. Conserving water will allow supplies to remain in Rollins and Scotts Flat reservoirs.

Photos to chronicle the drawdown of Rollins Reservoir

Each week NID will post a photo of Rollins Reservoir with water capacity information in order to provide a visual of the drawdown. Click here for the photo gallery 

Update for April 10, 2024 Board of Directors situation workshop:

• General Manager Jennifer Hanson gives an update to PG&E timeline for repairs and implications to the NID water supply - Watch the worskhop video (start time 1:28:18)
• Voluntary raw water conservation tally - As of April 10, 136 raw water customers have voluntarily reduced their water use, saving 238 miner's inches, or 2,500 acre-feet: "We appreciate our customers' efforts so far. The response has been good; we encourage people to keep it up," Chip Close, Director of Operations, told the Board during the April 10 meeting. 

NID has prepared material to keep the community informed:

FAQ 

"Must read" responses to these questions:

• What is the issue?
• Background - what has happened
• What flows are cut off?
• Impacts to NID?
• What will happen at Rollins Reservoir?
• What will happen at Scotts Flat Reservoir?
• What’s the timeframe for the PG&E repairs?
• NID is calling for conservation?

Download the PDF

Distribution Canals and customers impacted (from a "Plan for Water" presentation)

These maps show the canals and neighborhoods that will be impacted by the situation

News Releases:

NID to implement conservation measures after PG&E infrastructure emergency  

(Grass Valley, March 22, 2024) Due to unanticipated infrastructure repairs in the Sierra Nevada headwaters that have cut off water supply, the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) will be implementing emergency conservation measures. This is a call for a voluntary water reduction of 20 percent by all District water customers for the remainder of 2024.

NID’s Annual Mulch Magic Giveaway is April 27 -  free mulch available for pick-up

(Grass Valley, March 27, 2024) - The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) will provide free mulch available to local residents for pick up on a first-come, first-served basis on April 27 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Mulch Magic is part of the District’s continuing efforts to promote conscientious water use and conservation.

NID cuts flows in the Bear River

(Grass Valley, March 8, 2024) The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) is immediately cutting flows in the Bear River due to unexpected maintenance work in the headwaters, which provide the District’s water supplies. As a result, there will be a noticeable decrease of water in the system, specifically within the Bear River. NID, however, will continue to meet its current regulatory ramping rates and obligations.

GM Newsletter

GM Newsletter March

• NID declares water shortage emergency; call for water conservation after PG&E suffers significant infrastructure damage
• Water efficiency tips: now’s the time to fix a leak
• Reservoir Levels 102% of average

NID Conservation Information

NID Water Use Efficiency webpage