The Desert Water Agency Executive Committee previewed a demand-response proposal that would preserve pumping flexibility, a grant-funded emergency intertie bid call and two groundwater alternative-plan updates for the November 17 Board meeting. Staff expects the plans to return December 15 for approval consideration. On AB 2568, the committee advised holding off on an increase from 10 to 15 compensable days per month and revisiting it during the annual compensation review.
Desert Water Agency’s board voted 5–0 to adopt Mission Creek environmental documents and approve its part of a water exchange proposed through 2085; Metropolitan’s vote is pending. Raising the Table A transfer from 100,000 to 150,000 acre-feet needs state action; without it, the existing transfer would expire. Metropolitan could buy back up to 50,000 acre-feet in up to five of every ten years. Staff estimated up to $4.3 million in added annual costs. No Replenishment Assessment Charge increase was approved.
The October 29 Bay-Delta plan includes but does not fully incorporate the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes pathway. State Water Contractors will review it; Sites Authority found little project impact ahead of a November 4 water-right hearing. On November 3, the board voted 4–0 to award a $565,000 reservoir recoating contract and authorized an MOU amendment removing Valley Sanitary District as an active member of a regional water-management group.
At its October 29 meeting, the Desert Water Agency Executive Committee reviewed a regional water-management MOU restatement removing Valley Sanitary District and a proposed Palm Springs East No. 2 reservoir maintenance contract award for the November 3 board agenda. The committee did not advance a request for board compensation and approval of a travel date for the November 19 Southern California Water Coalition dinner, citing comparable benefits from existing associations.
Vice President McKenna relayed a 70–80% chance of an exceptionally wet winter. Staff reported no agency facility damage from Tropical Storm Rachel’s creek flows and is investigating sewer inflow at Cathedral Canyon Lift Station. Mission Creek and Indio Subbasin groundwater workshops are upcoming. The board approved a salary chart adding an Environmental Compliance Coordinator and authorized an easement-rights transaction for $5,000 plus a $700 fee.
