By Don A. Wright
The San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority held its board of directors meeting on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at its Los Banos headquarters and on Zoom. There has been more than the usual amount of media attention directed towards California water this past week. Before this goes any further I need to single out a SDLMWA director – Anthea Hansen, General Manager of the Del Puerto Water District. Last week in Reno was the Mid Pacific Water Users Conference. I attended and every time I turned around someone was praising Anthea for something she’d done, usually way above the call of her duties in organizing the event, that made things better. Good for her.
The Meeting
Things began at 9:30am on the dot with Chairman Cannon Michael initiating a salute to the flag of the greatest nation on Earth. Next folks introduced themselves and attorney Beca Akroyd told the board there was an addition to the agenda needed after the agenda was posted. That required a vote to add the item legally and the board was AOK with following the law and adding the item. There was no public comment and the consent calendar was approved. Director John Varela wound up in a spot, not his fault, but his offsite location wasn’t adequately noticed so he could not talk nor vote. There usually aren’t any votes so close they’d need him for a tie breaker, but if they did and he could vote, I’d trust him.
Staff Reports & Action Items
Staff reports were approved in mass and J. Scott Petersen gave his excellent, rapid fire report on legislation. Rapid fire is not a negative, Petersen gives his reports like a seasoned national newscaster. But it’s faster than I can type. So here’s a summation: On the federal side Congressman Jim Costa has a couple of water recharge bills the legislative committee likes. On the state side AB 259 deals with making provisions for teleconferencing under emergency orders now comply permanently with the Brown Act. There is draft legislation in the works to bring state funding to moving State Highway 152’s route to make room for expanding the B.F. Sisk Dam on San Luis Reservoir. Assemblywoman Esmerelda Soria and State Senator Anna Caballero are willing to take this on.
Financials
COO Pablo Arroyave presented the board with recommendations from the finance and admin committee to approve water year 2025 operations, maintenance and repair water rates. There are three repayment schedules to rewind pumps at the O’Neal pumping plant that’s around $875,000. We were referred to a large spread sheet to follow along as the possible scenarios were discussed. If I understood SLDM Executive Director Federico Barajas correctly – the power costs just flat cost too much. So, dear reader, get your board packet downloaded and dig in. Director Anthea Hansen, also General Manager of Del Puerto Water District mentioned above, moved and the recommendations were approved.
Next the board was asked to ratify termination of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement dissolving the Joint Powers Authority connected to that agreement. I do believe the reason given by Akroyd is to cross your legal t’s and dot your legal i’s so there is no lingering obligation by SLDM. Director Justin Diener had some comments about how this could impact South of Delta water conveyance. Others said there is a real
disconnect on how Los Vaqueros went from the premier water project to this unilateral termination. Director Ed Pattison, GM Byron Bethany felt Contra Costa Water District unilaterally killed a much needed project and should reimburse the other participants. The board approved the item. Michael said this is a resolution he’ll be sad to sign since 40 million Californians are running on a water system designed for half that many people.
Reports
Barajas presented the board a calendar for all committees and board meetings. Diener spoke first saying having to make two separate trips to Los Banos for both types of meetings is placing a strain on some. He suggested there would be less conflicts and better attendance to consolidate the monthly committee meetings on the regular board meeting day.
Barajas said the current structure is in the by laws and asked Akroyd for further information. She said this was established by resolution when the original SLDM JPA was established. The board has since adopted a resolution for the board to set the meeting calendar and I believe she said it will take a change in the JPA to alter the dates. Diener explained how Westlands Water District structured its combination of committee and board meetings.
Director Bill Diedrich said the SLDM by laws were set up when gas cost less than $1/gallon, he’s for consolidation of dates but wanted to hear from staff. Arroyave said there is a lot of staff time most folks don’t see and they do need some time. It sounded like it could go either way. Michael said he doesn’t want more meetings either but with technology one doesn’t have to drive to Los Banos to participate. There were a couple of other fellows who spoke softly about this matter but if you’d threatened to squeeze my love handles with a pair of pliers I couldn’t tell you what was said.
Jason Phillips, CEO Friant Water Authority was in the room. He explained how Friant handles its scheduling for committee and board meetings. I wonder if there is a degree offered by a four year institution somewhere in herding x number of cats into the same room at the same time. It is a process. Barajas kind of summed it up saying he appreciates the need to accommodate schedules and the different needs of directors and staff, but he said staff is there to serve the directors. He’s open to more discussion and Michael agreed. So, we’ll be hearing more about this in the future.
More Gov’t Mischief
Next Petersen told us about government affairs. He’s had a lot to pay attention to concerning executive orders alone. There were many EOs issued concerning water – California water. Our new President is making it known he’s concerned about the operations of the Central Valley Project. There is still much to be worked out and Petersen said to slow down until there is more information provided. This includes funding freezes, federal employee matters like get your butt to the office or you can decide to retire early with pay until September or get at it. Not Petersen’s words. He did say it’s estimated there may be
as much as an average 10 percent of the federal workforce that might go for it. But one wonders if this means those who’ve capped their retirement funds might just cruise on out a little early or if there are die hard deep state types who wish to fall on their thumb tack. I don’t see a six month paid leave as a sword.
Petersen said cabinet positions are being filled. One thing moving forward is the establishment of an adaptive management steering committee in the Record of Decision regarding Delta operations. That’s encouraging. Petersen is seated on that committee.
There is a flurry of endangered species on the federal side such as the monarch butterfly and the longfin smelt. Of course, the state has to big girl the feds so they listed some too.
Petersen said Congressman Doug LaMalfa is now chair of the Western Caucus, good for him. Staffer Kyle Lombardi is now working for La Malfa. He was with John Duarte. Petersen said he believes both California Senators are positioned to help on water. Michael said Adam Schiff has been reaching out to commodity groups and ag trade organizations and that encouraged Michael.
Petersen said reconciliation process is under the microscope and has been packaged in a way to move through the House and that tees up the Senate. There are border and energy issues and tax matters. He said that’s likely to end up with one bill for spending and one bill for cuts. He also said it would be much easier to work a single bill to get what one wants from government funding. The actual amounts of money will be known soon. DOGE is under the executive branch and of course Congress is the spending branch and things are shaping up for a flurry of lawsuits. There is a SLDM delegation heading to Washington DC soon.
Petersen said on the state side the Governor issued an executive order also. Similar to prior EOs Gavin Newsom has altered things somewhat to allow more capture of storm water for recharge and that is viewed as a good thing. The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley issued a statement that this is the first time since John F. Kennedy was President there’s been so much cooperation between the state and feds in getting water to the San Joaquin Valley.
Kristen Olsen reported even more government mischief calling this the calm before the storm in Sacramento. She said SB 72 by Caballero is essentially her water bill from last year being reintroduced. AB 372 by our old buddy Assemblyman Steve Bennett establishing a rural water fund – where does the money come from? What is it used for? Don’t know yet. Ventura based Bennett tried for two years to pass a bill that would shut down any new wells in the San Joaquin Valley. That doesn’t point to a reason to get a positive sense about what he’s offering. If only the coastal elites would find enough things to fix on their own turf, like homelessness and lack of desalinization and an over bearing Coastal Commission. Perhaps some of our Valley legislators should write some legislation mandating they do so.
There was a question about the releases from Kaweah and Tule River last week. Phillips said that event was stopped before any real harm was done. The water was likely to be released later under flood encroachment and hopefully the focus of the administration will now be more appropriately directed to the Delta. Michael said it is overall a good thing to call attention to water in California. Phillips said there has been a lot of pent up frustration about water in California and now there are folks interested in getting something accomplished quickly.
Ex D Report
Barajas gave his Executive Director report saying the activity agreement for the Voluntary Agreement participation has gone out to the members for review. The State Board is still looking to get a new water quality plan in place so beware. The US Bureau of Reclamation has been willing to increase transparency regarding the allocation process. He sounded hopeful and that includes the Delta operations side. He thanked Chris White, Exchange Contractors for his help in this.
COO Report
Arroyave said the plan for four outages at the O’Neill plant for maintenance starting every six months is scheduled and he said the contractor is in good shape to meet the deadlines and minimize any water loss. He said staff have worked very hard to get the Yuba transfers locked in before the change of administration and they just couldn’t get it across the line. That means new environmental reports. The Yuba transfers are an important water source for South of Delta contractors.
Arroyave said SLDM is working on an Environmental Assessment with the USBR and he expects a gap-EA that will allow this to happen this year. But there isn’t enough time to get a crop idling transfer in place and an entire EA will have to be up and running for that.
Water Report
USBR’s Liz Kiteck reported there has been so much rain in Northern California Lake Shasta is going to have to release flood flow encroachment. There were some wild cubic feet per second inflows. I heard 100,000 cfs before it was all done for Shasta and adjoining waters. New Melones Reservoir is at 80 percent encroached and it won’t take much if the rain fall south of Interstate 80 picks up. There is a good slosh of water coming down the Yolo Bypass but that’s not a guarantee of another turbidity bridge in the Delta, hopefully. Good pumping to fill the San Luis Reservoir. There could be another series of atmospheric rivers coming in. Kiteck also said she expects the Department of Water Resources’ inflow forecast report next week. She said the dry January could impact things a bit because the estimations are based on a monthly basis.
Outside Agency Reports
Diener pointed out Tom Boardman will be leaving Westlands employ next month. He is an amazing prognosticator. He used to work for SLDM. Wonder why he’s leaving. If I had the money I’d hire him. Few men or women in this world know how to take in all the variables associated with making an allocation forecast and none of them know more than Boardman. Michael and all the board thanked him. Boardman in turn thanked them back.
Petersen reminded everyone Dan Keppen is leaving the Farmily Flam Alliance – I mean – the Family Farm Alliance, you know the other FFA, is looking for a new executive director and the deadline to apply has closed.
Mike Wade reported the Water Blueprint has been busy responding to fire water and Fall X2 facts to the media. There are so many problems of the uninformed and/or malicious constantly trying to chip away at ag in California. He said the Blueprint reminded folks of the state and federal cooperation. He said the California Farm Water Coalition is hosting a social influencer tour taking place currently in the Imperial Valley to help educate that segment of the population that pays attention to social media and that’s a lot of folks. Diedrich encouraged everyone to support CFWC and Petersen backed him.
Petersen continued reporting on the Collaborative Action Program which is a part of the Blueprint efforts. He said meetings are continuing and fairly well received. It appears there is more open interest in recharge. You wouldn’t think that would be a controversial issue but there are those who want to the water to go elsewhere. There are those who believe it should flow out to sea.
Closed Session
There were no board member reports and no further public comments so as of 11:35am the meeting went into closed session. The board was met with two items of anticipated litigation, two items of potential litigation and 11 items of existing litigation. Go be good to yourself and others.
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2025 by Don A. Wright
SAN LUIS & DELTA-MENDOTA WATER AUTHORITY was established in January of 1992 and consists of approximately 2,100,000 acres of 29 federal and exchange water service contractors within the western San Joaquin Valley, San Benito and Santa Clara counties. The governing body of the Authority consists of a 19-member Board of Directors classified into five divisions with directors selected from within each division. The main conveyance is the Delta-Mendota Canal that delivers approximately 3,000,000-acre feet of water within the Authority service area. Of this amount, 2,500,000-acre feet are delivered to highly productive agricultural lands, 150,000 to 200,000-acre feet for municipal and industrial uses, and between 250,000 to 300,000 acre-feet are delivered to wildlife refuges for habitat enhancement and restoration.
Board – Chairman: Cannon Michael,
Staff – Executive Director: Federico Barajas, COO: Pablo Arroyave, Attorney: Becca Akroyd, Director Finance: Ray Tarka, Director Water Policy: J. Scott Petersen, Director O&M/Facilities: Bob Martin
Email: youtellus@sldmwa.org 209/826-9696
P.O. Box 2157 Los Banos, CA. 93635
DWR SGMA #5-022.07
