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LINCOLN - It will take a lot of haggling before the Nevada Irrigation District delivers a drop of water to the booming town of Lincoln.
NID Director Nancy Weber made that very clear Tuesday, vowing to watch the potential delivery plan and NID's water supply like a hawk.
At a meeting between district and city officials at Lincoln's sparkling new wastewater treatment plant, Weber repeatedly questioned why NID is even thinking about deliveries to Lincoln without making accommodations for others in the district who have sought water for years.
Two years ago, Lincoln and NID began discussions about delivering water to the city's northeast corner, where an expected 12,000 homes are expected to be built. The city expects to annex the homes into its city limits, which overlap with NID's borders.
At that time, NID officials said they felt an obligation to serve the expansion because their calling is to deliver water to those who want it within the district.
But Weber is worried.
"My concern is the rapid growth here," Weber said at the meeting. "NID needs to be planning for all of the district."
In a letter to NID board and staff members Weber sent out earlier in the day, she asked: "Is the amount of water for potential build-out available without sacrificing delivery to existing and future customers in other areas of the district?"
Weber said the last year's master plan for delivering water in the sprawling Nevada and Placer counties district said demand would meet availability in 2027.
"Can we really assume that we have valid projections for water demand in the area northeast of Lincoln?" Weber asked. "What happens if our assumptions are incorrect?"
Lincoln Mayor Ray Sprague said his city has no intention of depleting NID's water supply. City water consultant Frank Bradham said Lincoln turned to NID because of its, "tremendous resource."
"Only 25 percent of our growth is in the NID area," said John Pedri, director of the city's Public Works Department.
City officials also said they would like to be included in future rate increase discussions should a deal be reached.
NID Engineer Tim McCall assured Weber and others that they were there only there to discuss a nonbinding understanding, and would have to go through a lengthy process before any water flows to Lincoln.
In the draft plan written by NID, language stated NID could provide water to any part of Lincoln that spills into NID's district. But the draft also said NID was not interested in supplying water to areas of Lincoln outside of NID borders.
Weber said she realized her concerns were not Lincoln's problem, but were, "A potential stumbling block to any agreement with NID."
A study has already been done for a multi-million water treatment plant to serve Lincoln's growth and other potential building in the Highway 65 corridor within NID boundaries. The preferred area for the plant is just north of Lincoln.
Both NID and Lincoln officials said they would meet again at NID headquarters in Grass Valley at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 3.
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To contact senior staff writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
NID Director Nancy Weber made that very clear Tuesday, vowing to watch the potential delivery plan and NID's water supply like a hawk.
At a meeting between district and city officials at Lincoln's sparkling new wastewater treatment plant, Weber repeatedly questioned why NID is even thinking about deliveries to Lincoln without making accommodations for others in the district who have sought water for years.
Two years ago, Lincoln and NID began discussions about delivering water to the city's northeast corner, where an expected 12,000 homes are expected to be built. The city expects to annex the homes into its city limits, which overlap with NID's borders.
At that time, NID officials said they felt an obligation to serve the expansion because their calling is to deliver water to those who want it within the district.
But Weber is worried.
"My concern is the rapid growth here," Weber said at the meeting. "NID needs to be planning for all of the district."
In a letter to NID board and staff members Weber sent out earlier in the day, she asked: "Is the amount of water for potential build-out available without sacrificing delivery to existing and future customers in other areas of the district?"
Weber said the last year's master plan for delivering water in the sprawling Nevada and Placer counties district said demand would meet availability in 2027.
"Can we really assume that we have valid projections for water demand in the area northeast of Lincoln?" Weber asked. "What happens if our assumptions are incorrect?"
Lincoln Mayor Ray Sprague said his city has no intention of depleting NID's water supply. City water consultant Frank Bradham said Lincoln turned to NID because of its, "tremendous resource."
"Only 25 percent of our growth is in the NID area," said John Pedri, director of the city's Public Works Department.
City officials also said they would like to be included in future rate increase discussions should a deal be reached.
NID Engineer Tim McCall assured Weber and others that they were there only there to discuss a nonbinding understanding, and would have to go through a lengthy process before any water flows to Lincoln.
In the draft plan written by NID, language stated NID could provide water to any part of Lincoln that spills into NID's district. But the draft also said NID was not interested in supplying water to areas of Lincoln outside of NID borders.
Weber said she realized her concerns were not Lincoln's problem, but were, "A potential stumbling block to any agreement with NID."
A study has already been done for a multi-million water treatment plant to serve Lincoln's growth and other potential building in the Highway 65 corridor within NID boundaries. The preferred area for the plant is just north of Lincoln.
Both NID and Lincoln officials said they would meet again at NID headquarters in Grass Valley at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 3.
ooo
To contact senior staff writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
