(April 1, 2025) This year, we are once again facing an emergency water shortage, not because of drought or lack of precipitation, but because Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has essentially cut off our water while they continue to make repairs to their infrastructure at Lake Spaulding.

As president of the Nevada Irrigation District’s Board of Directors, I’d like to address the growing frustration among customers and residents – and NID, as well -- regarding the status of our water availability. Foremost, the water situation we face is confusing and complex.

We have experienced a wet winter, with snowpack near historical average and NID’s storage reservoirs brimming and even spilling. Snow and water are plentiful in the watershed this year, leading to ample amounts of water in NID’s upper reservoirs.  

And yet, District projections indicate in a matter of months our foothill reservoirs will be extremely low, potentially worse than when we endure multi-year droughts. Our primary water source, which is rain and snowmelt from the upper elevations, will not reach NID’s Rollins and Scotts Flat reservoirs, which provide irrigation for our farms and fields, as well as drinking water for domestic use.

The juxtaposition of these circumstances is unprecedented and, as a result, has major implications for our customers and communities at large. I want to assure you that NID is taking action to mitigate the impacts of this situation on our customers. Unfortunately, this summer will present hardships.

What’s the cause? One must only look about 35 miles northeast to failed PG&E infrastructure at Lake Spaulding. Owned by PG&E, the reservoir channels water from NID’s upper reservoirs, such as Jackson Meadows, Faucherie and Bowman, through Spaulding and into NID’s lower-elevation water conveyance systems.

Starting in March of last year, PG&E began reporting serious damage to multiple facilities and structures. At last count, five separate issues have required substantial repairs. These have had, and will continue to have, severe impacts to NID’s water delivery operations. While PG&E has prolonged repairs and re-repairs, the timeline continues to shift, with some of the work not projected to be completed and tested until late 2026 or 2027.

It has been hard to track all the damage and required repairs to PG&E’s infrastructure at Spaulding Reservoir. NID understands that there are or were essentially issues at five different pieces of infrastructure:

1. The low-level outlet for the Spaulding Reservoir Dam is not functioning and the repair date is unclear;

2. There were several damaged components at the Spaulding 2 powerhouse which were partially repaired in 2024. However, we have now been told the wicket gates that had been repaired, have failed and PG&E is claiming the need for full replacement;

3. There were massive failures at the Spaulding 1 powerhouse that destroyed the two discharge horns and support columns, a partial repair was completed in 2024 and the full repair should be completed in 2025; and

4. NID just recently learned there is new damage to the water intake tower located in the reservoir, the extent and required repair is unknown;

5. A rockslide occurred in February 2024 that destroyed a section of the South Yuba Pipe, which has been repaired.

Like you, we are sick and tired of PG&E’s inability to repair its infrastructure and meet its obligation to reliably deliver our water to us.

The District’s irrigation season begins on April 15 as normal. However, this year will again be without critical deliveries from upper-division snowmelt via Lake Spaulding. That means NID will need to rely upon the existing water in Rollins and Scotts Flat reservoirs to deliver water to customers this year. As the summer wears on, the levels in both reservoirs will plummet to dangerously low levels, seen only in the worst drought conditions. This will resemble last year, when the reservoirs dropped below boat ramp levels and boat slips had to be shored. This year, receding water may be noticeable as soon as mid-May, ultimately affecting recreation, camping and boat launching by late spring. In addition, hydroelectric generation will be negatively impacted due to the water restrictions. This emergency water shortage will cause millions of dollars' worth of damage and lost revenues for NID.

Sadly, this is the same situation that the PG&E repair delays caused in 2024. While NID has emphasized the importance of getting the work done for the sake of our customers, neighborhoods and communities, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. In addition, the discovery of new damage time after time only exasperates the situation.

In light of all of this, NID has learned from last year, and it is focused on ways to mitigate the impacts. For example, the District has adapted to reroute water through alternative channels, and it has activated operational backup pump stations to sustain reliable water deliveries.

Why does all this matter to NID and our customers? Because full flows to Scotts Flat and Rollins reservoirs may not be fully restored until Fall 2026. Without full deliveries of water our reservoirs will not stay full and mandatory conservation for all customers will be needed until they can be restored. 

Required water conservation, and additional pumping and labor also increase costs to NID and our customers. Notably the largest increase is PG&E power charges due to high electrical use associated with emergency pumping.

As your trusted water provider, we do not take for granted our water supply and delivery systems.  All of us at NID want you to know that we understand your frustration about the disruption to your water service and we apologize for the inconvenience and hardships this presents. The District will continue to press PG&E to finish the repair work as soon as possible and to hold them to account. In addition, NID is fortifying its delivery system as much as possible to maximize water to your faucets and farms. This situation has amplified the message that, in an organization of our size and history, aging infrastructure needs thoughtful, resourceful and strategic maintenance, repair and replacement to avoid disasters like the multiple ones PG&E has experienced these past two seasons.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  

Ricki Heck, President, Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors Division 1