Grass Valley, CA (Sept. 3, 2026) -- The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) has formed a new Agricultural Water Efficiency Stakeholder Committee to strengthen collaboration with local agricultural water users and agricultural efforts to use water more efficiently, through increased productivity or decreased water use.

The committee includes seventeen participants representing farmers, ranchers, growers, agricultural organizations, and two NID Board members: Director Rich Johansen and Director Earl Stephens. Serving in an advisory role, the group will review agricultural water‑efficiency opportunities to help farmers optimize water usage and provide recommendations to the Board. NID staff will assist in providing board updates and implement recommendations if adopted. 

“NID’s raw water system irrigates nearly 32,000 acres of farmland and pasture throughout Nevada and Placer counties,” said Jennifer Hanson, NID General Manager. “This committee creates an important forum for shared problem-solving as we work together to support reliability, stewardship, and long‑term resilience in our agricultural community.”

The committee operates under a formal charter outlining its purpose, structure, and responsibilities. It emphasizes consensus‑based decision-making and includes diverse stakeholder representation. Members will review efficiency issues, share feedback, and help relay community perspectives to the District. NID staff will facilitate meetings, implement Board‑approved recommendations, and provide regular updates.

The committee convened for its first meeting on September 1, 2026, at the District office in Grass Valley, where participants finalized the charter, received background on current agricultural water-efficiency efforts, discussed committee goals, and began to identify key challenges facing agricultural producers.

The group identified initial priorities, including grant funding, data-driven recommendations to guide decisions, increased collaboration, and set short‑term objectives to guide early efforts. The committee agreed to meet every three weeks through the fall.

NID operates one of the largest raw‑water delivery systems in the Sierra Nevada foothills, serving thousands of agricultural operations. The formation of this committee reflects the District’s commitment to listening to customers, improving service, and supporting a resilient agricultural economy.