Re-elect Karen Hull
for NID
Division 3 Director
Vision. Courage.
Smart Choices.
Protect Water Reliability and Affordability.
We Need Proven Leadership to Face Tomorrow's Challenges
As a former executive leader at UC Davis with an MBA and decades of experience managing large operations and complex finances, Karen Hull has had the honor of bringing strategic and fiscal leadership to the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) Board as Division 3 Director for the past four years.
Karen delivered on her promises. During her first term, NID overhauled its financial operations, developed comprehensive infrastructure plans, and grew income without raising rates for three years. Karen and other NID leaders also avoided catastrophe this summer when PG&E infrastructure failures cut off water to our district. By holding PG&E's executives accountable and managing water wisely, we averted a crisis.
NID is now in a far better position to address the serious issues facing us next term – including aging infrastructure, ensuring adequate water storage, and protecting our water rights.
We need proven leaders now, more than ever. Please support Karen so she can continue her work. She has the vision, courage, and experience to ensure reliable and affordable water for everyone in the district. Read more about Karen.
See Karen in action at the League of Women Voter's debate Thursday, Sept. 26, from 6-7:30 pm at the Rood Center in Nevada City. Submit your questions.
Endorsements
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Placer County Supervisors – Cindy Gustafson and Jim Holmes
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Placer County Water Agency – Josh Alpine, Board Director
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NID Director Division 1 – Ricki Heck
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4th Generation Farmer, Past President Nevada County Farm Bureau – Chris Bierwagen
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Nevada County Contractors' Association PAC
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Grass Valley City Council – Bob Branstrom
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Nevada County Supervisor - Heidi Hall, District 1 Supervisor
Protect Water Reliability and Affordability.
This term, NID is faced with unprecedented challenges that won't be solved with simplistic thinking. Karen's top priority is to ensure reliable, affordable water for agricultural, residential, and recreational use — not just this year — but for decades to come.
Much of NID's infrastructure dates back to 1960s and 1970s and needs to be upgraded or replaced. We need to ensure adequate water storage given changing weather patterns. And, NID is facing outrageous demands from the state water board that threaten our water rights.
NID's recently completed 'Plan for Water' provides the clarity we need to make smart, data-driven choices. Karen is committed to making strategic investments in our aging infrastructure and ensuring adequate water storage while also keeping water affordable. She also has the courage and experience needed to negotiate with the State of California and fiercely defend our water rights against state overreach.
Infrastructure
PG&E's stunning infrastructure failure earlier this year was a wake-up call, alerting us to the threats we face with our own aging infrastructure.
We avoided a catastrophe this summer when PG&E failures cut off water to our district. By holding their executives accountable and managing water wisely, NID prevented a crisis.
Much of NID's infrastructure dates back 50 plus years. We need to update it piece-by-piece in the coming years so we can avoid a future crisis and protect against the more extreme costs of urgent repairs.
Financial leadership is vital to creating a resilient future. Karen's expertise is exactly what we need to make these strategic investments while keeping water affordable.
Water Storage
Because of the PG&E failure, our reservoir levels were lower this summer – prompting many to wonder whether we need more water storage. The simple answer is "not yet". But when that situation changes, we have many cost-effective options available to us.
As attractive as it sounds to simply "build a new dam", recent analysis shows that the extremely high costs would make rates skyrocket.
Fortunately, NID's Plan for Water process has identified many smarter choices we can make to ensure an adequate water supply for the future.
Karen is committed to making the right choices at the right time so we can avoid impossible debt and keep water affordable for everyone.
State Water Demands
Our district is facing a new challenge that could have dire negative impacts. The State Water Resources Control Board could force us to send up to 55% of our water downstream. This is a severe overreach by the state that threatens our water supply and local water rights.
We are fighting back. Since NID recently completed a thorough, science-based analysis of our supply and demand, we are one of the only districts in California that has been able to demonstrate the catastrophic impact of such a requirement.
As a former executive leader at UC Davis, Karen knows what it takes to navigate difficult negotiations with state institutions. She has what it takes to protect our water rights and prevent a disaster.
Get to Know Karen
What a Difference Fours Years Can Make
During her four year term, Karen helped NID:
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Overhaul financial management to provide a clear and timely understanding of financial health and make better-informed decisions.
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Increase income without raising customer rates for three consecutive years.
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Implement a comprehensive long-term planning process (The Plan for Water) to identify and prioritize investments for our future water supply.
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Deliver much-needed improvements in Division 3 in support of both agricultural and residential needs
Financial Overhaul
Rate Control
Plan For Water
Division 3 Improvements
