MID Board Report Archive

Modesto Irrigation District Board Meeting of Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Contact: MID Public Affairs Department, Maree Hawkins, 209 526-7390
The next MID Board meetings are scheduled for April 11 and April 25.

Water Report

Assistant General Manager Walter Ward, Water Operations, said the central Sierra snow pack is about 121 percent of normal. The City and County of San Francisco is now releasing water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to make way for the spring runoff. The water flows into the Tuolumne River and then Don Pedro Reservoir. The Don Pedro Powerhouse is operating at maximum generation to keep the reservoir’s elevation at or below 801.9 feet. Don Pedro’s elevation cannot go above 801.9 feet until
April 27.

The 2005-2006 rainfall total (July 1-June 30) is less than average, although March rainfall is slightly above average. The 2005-2006 total as of March 30 at 10 a.m. was 9.65 inches, compared to the historical end of March season average of 10.67 inches.

Mr. Ward also discussed the feasibility of MID providing frost protection with irrigation water. He noted that even if MID could predict when and where frost would occur, the canal system’s design would allow only a handful of irrigation water users to receive the water. This could create a liability problem for MID. Additional items to contend with: Water is usually not in the canal system until mid-March and if canals are empty, it takes two to three days to move water into the canal system.

Customer Billing System Update

Project Manager Lou Hampel reported that the system is working fairly well right now. Staff is still working through problems that occurred in mid-February. A top priority is to complete the validation and collection functions. Although some high bills are still being generated, they are being identified through a manual review process.

Regulatory compliance fees

By a majority vote the Board agreed to consider regulatory compliance fees on water customers during the fall budget process.

Mountain House

By a majority vote, the Board set April 25 for a public hearing regarding the proposed adoption of a resolution of necessity to acquire property owned by PG&E within the Mountain House Community Services District. MID has leased some electric facilities from PG&E. This process does not preclude MID from continuing purchase negotiations with PG&E. Assistant General Manager Tom Kimball, Transmission and Distribution, said that MID now has about 1,600 accounts in Mountain House. Infrastructure for three neighborhoods is completed and work is beginning on infrastructure for the commercial developments and Delta College campus in the Highway 205/Mt. House Parkway area.

Agreement with Kaiser Permanente

The Board unanimously approved the renewal agreement between MID and Kaiser Permanente to provide health care services to employees and retirees under and over age 65 from Jan. 1, 2006 through Dec. 31, 2006. The Board will soon receive a similar agreement with PacifiCare.