Plan for the Future
Karen's first term accomplishments at NID give her exactly what she needs to navigate the challenging times ahead. She has the courage to stand up to Governor Newsom's overzealous state water board. She also has the vision to make smart choices that will deliver reliable and affordable water to everyone in the district.
Water Supply
Over the last four years, Karen and her colleagues at NID have taken full stock of the challenges facing our water district – including aging infrastructure, changing weather patterns, and outrageous demands from the State of California.
The public Plan for Water (PFW) process launched in December 2022 used in-depth scientific analysis to thoroughly evaluate the state of our water system today and clarify likely impacts of changing weather patterns on our future water supply. The Plan also demonstrated a variety of approaches we can use to ensure an adequate supply for decades to come – without saddling the district with the enormous costs of building a brand new dam.
As a fiscal conservative, Karen is committed to making balanced choices. We must carefully weigh costs against benefits for each option considered – making sure to avoid impossible debt for the district. It is the only way to keep water affordable for everyone.
Thanks to the PFW analysis, we know that our water storage is adequate today, but when that situation changes, Karen sees clear, cost-effective options available to us. In the near term, for instance, we could increase district water storage by raising the 'weirs' (spillover barriers) in Rollins Reservoir. Other options include buying water from PG&E and reducing water loss in our canals through automation.
Yes. Our water district is facing real challenges. But with the smart choices and strong leadership Karen brings to the NID Board, we can ensure a reliable water supply in the future without breaking the bank and making water unaffordable.
Infrastructure
PG&E's recent infrastructure failures are a wake-up call, underscoring the very real threats we face with aging infrastructure.
Much of NID's infrastructure dates back to 1960s and 1970s and needs to be upgraded or replaced. With 430 miles of treated water pipelines and 90 of raw water pipelines, we have no choice but to start replacing things before they reach a point of failure. The cost of not doing so would risk serious disruptions to our system.
Now, more than ever, we need smart, data-driven leaders like Karen to plan and execute the systematic replacement of our aging infrastructure without creating overwhelming District debt and making water unaffordable for NID customers.
She spent the last four years helping NID build a stronger framework for accurately assessing infrastructure strengths, weaknesses, and investment requirements. The next four years will be all about leveraging that information to make the right decisions for the future.
State Demands
Our district is facing a new challenge that could have dire negative impacts on our water supply. Governor Newsome's State Water Resources Control Board is updating the Bay-Delta Water Plan, which will dictate how NID is able to manage our water in the future.
The proposal in the water board's plan is a severe overreach by the state that conflicts with local water rights that date back prior to 1914. Karen and her colleagues at NID are going toe-to-toe with the state to protect our rights and prevent a disaster.
The state is considering two approaches. The first involves sending 55 percent of our water as "unimpaired flows" (55%UIF) down rivers and streams into the Bay-Delta. "Unimpaired flows" means that NID and its customers could not make any use of this water. Such a requirement would devastate our life as we know it. It is completely unreasonable for NID and its customers, and would cause significant and irreversible impacts.
The second approach – which Karen supports – is called the "Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program". This program makes it possible for NID to reach a voluntary agreement with the state. Instead of severely reducing water flows to address the Bay-Delta concerns, it allows a more holistic approach using a variety of actions. A key principle of this program is that "every drop needs to serve multiple uses," establishing a framework that makes it easier for diverse interests to work together.
This won't be an easy negotiation with the state, but Karen has the experience needed to guide us through. Because of the work done in her first term, NID is able to defend itself with a thorough, science-based analysis of its supply and demand. Karen is committed to ensuring that when negotiations are done, NID customers will continue to have access to the water they need for their households, farms, ranches, and recreation.
Priority Projects
There are many urgent projects to attend to at NID. Here are some of the top priorities that Karen supports because they impact the greatest number of businesses and people.
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South Yuba Canal
PG&E's recent failure highlights the need for NID to control its own infrastructure. To that end, NID purchased 17 miles of the South Yuba Canal from PG&E in 2023 for $1. Like the section still owned by PG&E at the top of the canal, NID's newly-acquired segment runs through heavily forested, steep terrain that is difficult to access. This canal is a critical conveyance serving most of Nevada County with water, so mitigating risks is a very high priority.
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Scott's Flat Spillway
Scott's Flat is a key storage reservoir and flood control tool in our district's water management system. It also generates revenue from hydropower that offsets the rates NID customers pay. The spillway, constructed in the 1940s, has experienced repetitive cracking and severe damage from winter storms, notably in 2017. Its safety rating was downgraded from 'satisfactory' to 'fair' in 2019, prompting the development of plans for a significant upgrade.
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Lake Wildwood Treatment Plant
Ensuring a stable and continuous water supply for over 9,000 residents of Lake Wildwood and Penn Valley is top of mind in this project. As one of our older water treatment plants, we need to upgrade and/or replace clarifiers, filters, mechanical components, and chemical tanks. This significant capital project will take place over several years and will help ensure a fully operational plant for decades to come.