MID Board Report Archive

Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Board Meeting of Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Contact: MID Public Affairs Department, Kate Hora, 526-7454
The next MID Board meetings will be on Dec. 19, 2006, and Jan. 9 and 23, 2007.

Water Report

Walt Ward, Assistant General Manager for Water Operations, reported that rainfall on the valley floor had been lagging but was now catching up with historical average amounts. (Note: By the end of the day on Dec. 12, MID had recorded almost three-quarters of an inch of rain in Modesto, bringing total rainfall for the season to 2.92 inches, compared to the historical average of 3 inches on that date.) Elevation in Don Pedro Reservoir is 794 feet, almost exactly on target.

Laboratory test services approved

The Board unanimously approved two purchase orders for laboratory test services as a part of MID’s water quality monitoring and sampling program, a requirement of our “conditional ag waiver.” Because of the canal system design, very little residual irrigation water flows back into our canals after growers finish irrigating their fields. However, because MID discharges water from the ends of the canal system into rivers, the District is required to have a conditional waiver. MID samples water four times a year at over a dozen different locations and tests for eleven constituents considered to harm water quality. To date the monitoring program has shown water quality in MID canals to be remarkably good. However, staff is concerned about potential water quality issues with urban stormwater that drains into MID canals.

Addendum to Program Environmental Impact Report approved

In Nov. 2000, the Board certified a Program Environmental Impact Report (Program EIR) that addressed potential environmental impacts from the extension of electric service to customers beyond MID’s then-current electrical system.

By majority vote, the Board approved an Addendum that updates the Program EIR and narrows its geographic scope to include only MID’s electric service area as defined by state law (AB 2638, effective Jan. 1, 2001).

In other actions today

• The Board unanimously approved
• The MID Safety Incentive Awards Program.
• Revisions to the MID Risk Management Policy.
• Amendment No. 3 to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Financing Authority Joint Powers Agreement.
• An Amendment to Section A13, Exempt Employee Temporary Upgrade, of the MID Employee Handbook.

Third quarter 2006 financial and budget review

Highlights:

• Power supply expenses are under budget as a result of a $17 million payment from PG&E and the good water year.
• Construction of the Ripon Generation Station and the McClure environmental upgrade were completed slightly under budget.
• Retail electric revenue for the nine-month period is 3% or $5.4 million under budget.
• Wholesale electric revenue was almost double the projected amount or $11.4 million over budget.
• Customer equity was up $20.4 million for the nine months