A second year of below-average rainfall in the Sierra Nevada may force Nevada Irrigation District to purchase water from PG&E, water operations manager Don Wight said.

Water is so limited, the district won't be able to keep Jackson Meadows and Bowman reservoirs full. Low water levels will close Wood Camp boat ramp at Jackson Meadows by Labor Day, water operations manager Don Wight said.

The PG&E purchase would allow NID to make deliveries to downstream customers and keep water in reserves if a third dry year strikes in 2009, Wight added.

Under an agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the water agency can purchase up to 10,000 acre-feet of water PG&E would have used to produce hydro-electric power.

"We pay for the lost power generation," Wight said.

Depending on where in the water system NID buys the water, prices vary from $2 to $4.60 per acre-foot.

To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.