Board approved Colorado River legal contract increases totaling $1.5M in new spending: +$500K for Van Ness Feldman LLP (new NTE $1M) and +$1M for Milbank LLP (new NTE $1.25M), as Metropolitan's Colorado River lead heads to Senate testimony. Department heads received a 3.4% increase if rated competent or better, effective June 21, 2026. Invocation highlighted climate whiplash, reliability, and affordability.
The Executive Committee recommended a 3.4% cost-of-wages salary adjustment for department heads, contingent on a competent-or-better evaluation, replacing the traditional CPI-based approach with the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index and pending full Board approval in June. Chair Ortega noted the meeting was delayed due to critical Colorado River discussions, and the General Manager reported testifying before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee in Washington, D.C.
Subsidence could cut deliveries 18%–87% by 2043 under no-action. DWR will start five interim projects with Check 17 gate removal in Sept. 2026 and liner raises; wet-year impacts improve to ~2%. Funding: $50M DOI + $45M Prop 4 proposed. Long-term fix benchmark up to $3.9B, aiming for 2033 readiness.
The board approved continuing Metropolitan's water standby charge for FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28, a resolution supporting a Proposition 4 funding application for reuse testing facility improvements, and a $26,679,800 seismic upgrade contract for the Weymouth Administration and Control Building. A watermaster representative said the golden mussel issue is challenging groundwater replenishment for nearly 2 million residents.
Lower Basin states proposed a 2026–2028 bridge: 1.25 MAF/yr lower basin reductions in 2027–2028 with CA at 440,000 AF/yr, plus 300,000 AF additional conservation total (funding-dependent). SWP stays 30% (possible May change). Proposal adds 3%/yr ICS evaporation and tightens ICS access to 0 at Mead 1,000 ft.
