Guest editorial: Choosing Rollins over Centennial – a win for water and wallets

Four years ago, I ran for the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) board on a platform of fiscal responsibility and a promise to safeguard our community's water resources without overburdening ratepayers. Since then, I've worked diligently to keep that promise. NID overhauled its finances, kept water rates unchanged for three years and completed a 2.5-year public process that created a comprehensive "Plan for Water" that will guide infrastructure decisions for decades to come. As I seek re-election this November, a pivotal decision highlights our board's dedication to both fiscal prudence and water security: the Sept. 25 vote to discontinue the Centennial Dam project and instead focus on raising Rollins Reservoir. This decision represents the kind of leadership NID and the Board now embrace – thoughtful, responsible and grounded in the best interests of our customers. It's proof that we are willing to do the right homework and make tough choices to ensure that we can provide reliable water service while maintaining financial health. Here's how this landmark decision unfolded, and why it matters for the future of our district: The decision After more than a decade of considering the pros and cons of building Centennial Dam to increase long-term water storage, I and other members of the NID board voted to discontinue the Centennial project and focus instead on raising Rollins Reservoir. After the full analysis was revealed, even the staunchest supporters of the project seemed to concede. Centennial is just not the right project for our water district. What the analysis showed 1) Location – Centennial's location in the district means it would only serve Placer County and a small section of Nevada County. But all NID customers would pay for the project! The Rollins' location serves a greater number of NID customers. 2) Cost and financing – Centennial, including financing costs, would be almost $1 billion! Raising Rollins Reservoir would cost about $470 million. Simply put, the district cannot finance a project the size of Centennial. 3) Rate impacts – Centennial's massive price tag would make rates skyrocket. For example, the cost of 10 miner's inches of irrigation water would go from $3,931 today to $26,331. The impact on agricultural customers would be particularly catastrophic. 4) Construction and environmental hurdles – These are significantly greater for a new Centennial Dam versus raising Rollins, an existing dam. 5) Water rights – Some people were concerned that discontinuing the Centennial effort would mean giving up water rights, but that's simply not the case. NID does NOT have these water rights. The district has been pursuing them for almost a century. NID does, however, have the water rights for Rollins Reservoir. But wait, don't we need more water storage right now? Actually … No. Not yet. Our recently completed Plan for Water shows we have adequate storage for the foreseeable future. Our ability to deliver water successfully this summer, despite PG&E infrastructure failures, further proves this. Raising Rollins is about planning ahead, ensuring we're ready when the time comes. NID also has highly-effective, low-cost ways to augment our current water supply and manage it more efficiently. 1) Purchasing PG&E water – We have an agreement that lets us purchase PG&E water at a very reasonable cost. 2) Adjusting carry-forward storage policies – This allows us to use our water storage more effectively during times of drought. 3) Encouraging on-site water storage – We are actively promoting additional water storage with micro-ponds and through NID's rebates for storage tanks. 4) Increasing canal efficiency – We are installing gauging stations that let NID control canal flows automatically based on customer needs, resulting in more efficient use of water. Our decision to cancel Centennial and prioritize raising Rollins Reservoir exemplifies the thoughtful analysis and fiscal responsibility I have championed during my time on the NID Board. Our community deserves leadership that is dedicated to practical, achievable solutions – without placing unnecessary financial strain on ratepayers. As I seek reelection this November, I remain committed to ensuring NID continues on this path of financial stability and reliable water service. To learn more about my platform, please visit my website at www.karenhull4nid.com. Karen Hull is the Nevada Irrigation District Board Director for Division 3.