The 2025 deficit irrigation program concluded successfully with $30 million in payments to be completed by October's end, while two major storms caused an estimated $12-15 million in electrical infrastructure damage requiring extensive repairs. Most critically, the Colorado River faces a challenging outlook with Lake Powell potentially dropping below critical elevations that could trigger reduced water deliveries to the lower basin as low as 6 million acre-feet.
The board reviewed their 2024 power source disclosure showing continued reliance on natural gas generation. Directors discussed potential changes to governance policies ahead of December elections, particularly whether to maintain higher voting thresholds for selecting leadership positions. The district is actively pursuing FEMA reimbursement for extensive storm damage that required replacing approximately 300 power poles, marking their first major test of the federal assistance process.
The board declared a local emergency following severe August monsoon storms that caused widespread power outages affecting over 8,400 customers and damaged more than 300 power poles, with repair costs estimated at $9-12 million. A 30-year water supply agreement was approved to provide up to 5,000 acre-feet annually to a geothermal facility for renewable energy production. The board also implemented new meeting procedures, moving to one formal business meeting and one informal work session...
The Colorado River system remains in crisis with Lake Mead projected at 31% capacity, triggering another Tier 1 shortage for 2025 and creating pressure for basin states to reach agreement by November 11 on post-2026 operations. The board approved approximately $90 million in conservation program funding, with staff reporting 99% completion of field analysis and over 70% farmer participation in water-saving efforts. Board members also discussed restructuring their meeting format to separate formal business sessions from strategic work sessions, allowing all directors to participate in policy discussions rather than limiting participation through committee structures.
