News
Leaders of the Nevada Irrigation District are looking ahead and wondering if current dry conditions will have impacts on water supplies and deliveries later this year.
While acknowledging this week's wet forecast and saying it is too early in the rainfall season to make any predictions, NID General Manager Ron Nelson noted that to date this winter has been unusually dry.
“We're planning for the worst and hoping for the best,” Nelson said.
The dry year discussion came as part of Wednesday's meeting of the NID board of directors. Copies of NID's drought contingency plan, last updated in 2007, were distributed for board review.
NID is being conservative with water releases and keeping as much water in mountain storage as possible, Nelson said. Water storage remains above average for this time of year, he added.
It is still early in the season, and NID's April 1 snow surveys should provide a realistic assessment of the coming year's water availability, said new board President Nick Wilcox, of Division 5 in Penn Valley.
“The critical time is early April,” said Wilcox. “It's good for us to be proactive, to be planning ahead.”
In other business, NID directors:
• Heard a presentation from John Kingsbury, executive director of the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, and voted to join the North State Water Alliance, a group that is dedicated to preserving and protecting Northern California water rights.
The growing group of cities, counties, water purveyors and others is concerned that proposed increases in water flows through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and to Southern California could come at the expense of north state communities.
• Authorized Nelson to work with the city of Nevada City on a temporary contract to supply raw water, replacing a 1983 agreement. The district and the city are also exploring options for NID to supply raw water to the city on a more permanent basis.
• Heard a presentation from Division 2 Director John Drew of Chicago Park, who reported on sedimentation levels in Rollins Reservoir. Water storage space in the reservoir is being lost, and the district must find ways to get through the difficult dredging permit process so further infill can be managed, he said.
• Recognized NID Maintenance Manager John Kirk, who is resigning Jan. 31 to take a position with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Kirk, a registered civil engineer, will work with PG&E's land use division in Auburn.
Several board members, management team members, members of Kirk's staff and public speakers lauded him for his professionalism and accomplishments. Kirk spent 12 years with NID.
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Nevada City resident and freelance writer Dave Carter contracts with the Nevada Irrigation District.
While acknowledging this week's wet forecast and saying it is too early in the rainfall season to make any predictions, NID General Manager Ron Nelson noted that to date this winter has been unusually dry.
“We're planning for the worst and hoping for the best,” Nelson said.
The dry year discussion came as part of Wednesday's meeting of the NID board of directors. Copies of NID's drought contingency plan, last updated in 2007, were distributed for board review.
NID is being conservative with water releases and keeping as much water in mountain storage as possible, Nelson said. Water storage remains above average for this time of year, he added.
It is still early in the season, and NID's April 1 snow surveys should provide a realistic assessment of the coming year's water availability, said new board President Nick Wilcox, of Division 5 in Penn Valley.
“The critical time is early April,” said Wilcox. “It's good for us to be proactive, to be planning ahead.”
In other business, NID directors:
• Heard a presentation from John Kingsbury, executive director of the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, and voted to join the North State Water Alliance, a group that is dedicated to preserving and protecting Northern California water rights.
The growing group of cities, counties, water purveyors and others is concerned that proposed increases in water flows through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and to Southern California could come at the expense of north state communities.
• Authorized Nelson to work with the city of Nevada City on a temporary contract to supply raw water, replacing a 1983 agreement. The district and the city are also exploring options for NID to supply raw water to the city on a more permanent basis.
• Heard a presentation from Division 2 Director John Drew of Chicago Park, who reported on sedimentation levels in Rollins Reservoir. Water storage space in the reservoir is being lost, and the district must find ways to get through the difficult dredging permit process so further infill can be managed, he said.
• Recognized NID Maintenance Manager John Kirk, who is resigning Jan. 31 to take a position with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Kirk, a registered civil engineer, will work with PG&E's land use division in Auburn.
Several board members, management team members, members of Kirk's staff and public speakers lauded him for his professionalism and accomplishments. Kirk spent 12 years with NID.
ooo
Nevada City resident and freelance writer Dave Carter contracts with the Nevada Irrigation District.
