Meeting
The General Manager reported on a successful trip to Washington D.C. to lobby legislators regarding water and power issues, specifically advocating for the continuation and potential permanence of the Low-Income Water Assistance Program (LIWAP). Discussions also included lobbying for general infrastructure improvement funding and issues surrounding PFAS (forever chemicals) contamination and disposal liabilities for utilities. Good news included the inclusion of a line item in the state capital budget for utility relocation for Olssen Creek, pending gubernatorial signature. Project updates covered ongoing utility relocations (Highway 20, I-5, and West Mount Vernon pipeline projects), progress toward canceling the SRD emergency declaration upon final improvements, and the goal to start up SRD pumps on April 1st. Reservoir levels remain low due to lack of recent rainfall. The IT Director provided updates on cybersecurity improvements following penetration testing, enhanced vulnerability management using Qualys and Clarity for server and SCADA systems, and the development of IT-specific policies and standards. Significant discussion centered on the Starlink implementation for remote site communication, which has proven successful at Saratoga and Eaglemont locations. Finally, a major agenda item was the discussion of temporary water rights transfer agreements for Districts 15 and 22 due to the declared drought, with a recommendation to address this year's needs separately from potential non-drought transfers in future years, proposing a wider pumping period (May 15th to October 1st) and a $5,000 water transfer fee.