Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency Board Meeting - April 20, 2026

The Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency Board of Directors met in regular session on April 20, 2026. The transcript text identifies the meeting as April 16, 2026, but this summary follows the provided meeting date of April 20, 2026. According to the transcript, the meeting began at 3:00 p.m. and lasted about one hour. The board approved the consent calendar, heard staff reports on source water assessment, water supply, long-term water supply, capital improvements, electrical reliability, operations, the draft FY 2026-27 budget, and 10th anniversary celebration planning. Board member Angel Brahas was absent as a non-voting member; the university was represented. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for June 18, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• The board adopted the agenda and approved the two consent items: the January 15 minutes and the quarterly treasurer's report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025-26.
• During discussion, one board member estimated the agency's total fund balance at roughly $16 million, while noting that not all of it is allocated to reserves, and estimated reserves in the $8-10 million range.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comment was offered; the chair noted that no members of the public were present.

Source Water Assessment (SRSSU 2025) and Partnerships

• Staff reported completion of the five-year Sacramento River source water assessment, prepared with the City of Sacramento, West Sacramento, Placer County Water Agency, Sacramento County Water Agency, and East Bay MUD.
• The report was submitted in December 2025 and approved without comments; it will remain posted on the agency website.
• The agency participates in the voluntary spill notification network and this year joined the rice pesticide program, which provides access to more testing and data on rice pesticides, including thiobencarb.

Water Supply and Snowpack Update

• Staff reported gross water supply at 102% of average as of the day before the meeting, with more rain expected the following week.
• Lake Oroville was about 90% full and roughly 115% of average; Lake Shasta was also well above average, with some flood-control and salmon pulse-flow releases.
• Snowpack was described as poor: the second worst year on record behind 2015, with the Northern Sierra at 11% of average, Central California at 25%, and Southern California at 28%.
• The agency has its full 10,000 acre-feet of CVP water available and is not in a Shasta critical year. Staff predicted the Term 91 curtailment of the primary Sacramento River water right would begin between May 1 and May 15, later than earlier forecasts because of April rain.
• A small summer water transfer is being considered for the City of Davis and potentially UC Davis, but not the City of Woodland.

Long-Term Water Supply and Water Rights

• Staff reported work on a supplemental EIR, with an administrative draft expected around mid-May and completion targeted for September 2026. The goal is to bring a long-term water agreement to the board for approval at the September 2026 meeting.
• The supplemental EIR would allow summer-only water transfers with any Sacramento River settlement contractor as opportunities arise; South Sutter Water District would be the long-term partner for both summer and winter supply as needed.
• Board members asked detailed questions about the agency's primary water right. Staff explained the primary right is an appropriative right, allows up to 52 million gallons per day, and is based on historical applications; the agency uses about 19,000 acre-feet per year out of a 45,000 acre-foot annual entitlement. The 1994 priority date makes the agency one of the most junior rights on the Sacramento River, but staff said the right should be defensible for future growth.

Capital Improvements, Permitting, and Electrical Reliability

• Staff described a minor erosion project at the joint intake parking lot, replacement of an intake flow meter, and efforts to obtain a permanent permit for alum use at the water treatment plant. The Division of Drinking Water has asked for a two-week full-capacity run, a condition the agency says it cannot meet; the agency is seeking an alternative approach and can remain on the temporary permit.
• A filter re-rating study is expected to take about a year. The filters are currently permitted at 6 gallons per minute per square foot; the goal is to increase plant capacity by 4 million gallons per day to 34 MGD in a two-step process. The current permitted plant capacity is 30 MGD, with the primary water right supporting up to 52 MGD. Staff noted City of Davis interest in higher near-term capacity, and the overall effort could take 1.5 to 2 years.
• The agency had 16 power outage events between 2017 and 2025. Staff met with PG&E to improve electrical reliability. The August 2024 outage required 14 days of generator operation and cost $279,000 in diesel, backup generator, and maintenance; a July 2025 outage resulted in a net payment to Jacobs of $34,000 after reassessing liquidated damages. The agency paid 100% of the July costs and most costs for August, excluding contractor electrical repairs. A board member described the costs as straight hits with no reimbursement.
• Staff are also installing power-quality equipment and considering relocating surge arresters that have failed during voltage events.

Operations Update

• Average treated water was about 20.04 million gallons per day, with roughly half to Woodland and half to Davis/UC Davis combined.
• Staff stated water quality continues to meet and exceed drinking water requirements; Woodland is injecting into ASR wells, while Davis has finished its ASR testing.
• Staff presented preliminary delivery planning if the Term 91 curtailment begins in early May: about 10 million gallons per day to Woodland and 10 MGD to Davis/UC Davis from June through September, then about 4 to 4.5 MGD in October. These numbers would increase if the curtailment start is later.

FY 2026-27 Budget

• Staff presented a year-end projection for the current fiscal year: total operations and maintenance is projected to come in about $1.62 million below the authorized budget, including about $700,000 below budget on electricity, $400,000 below on chemicals, and $400,000 below on the distributed energy resources (DER) design project because a federal Bureau of Reclamation grant application received no decision and the project was paused. The grant request was for $3 million toward construction.
• The draft FY 2026-27 budget is roughly $2 million higher than the current year, driven by about $765,000 in repair and replacement work, $600,000 for supplemental water purchase, and $740,000 as a placeholder to begin procuring long-lead DER equipment.
• The DER project as a whole is estimated at about $8 million. One board member called that a lot of bread and expressed concern about the agency paying for it without grant funding. Staff said the amount in the budget is not an approval to proceed; they may recommend completing design to 90 percent, estimated at $150,000-$200,000, to be shovel-ready for future grants. Further board and city discussion is expected before construction.
• SRF debt service remains $9.99 million per year, unchanged. Woodland made its final reserve payment last fiscal year; Woodland has about 10.5 years of debt payments remaining and Davis about 20.5 years.
• The final budget will be presented for adoption at the June 18, 2026 board meeting.

10th Anniversary Celebration

• Staff announced a 10th anniversary celebration at the joint intake facility on the river on June 2 at 10:00 a.m., with a tent, chairs, and refreshments.
• A plaque will be installed at the water treatment plant dedicated to Dr. Marble and Angela Sacopoulos for their work on water rights and project development; both are expected to attend.
• Board members praised the project as a major success story, noting it came in five months ahead of schedule and $8 million under budget, and consolidated four river intakes into one shared facility.

Future Board Calendar and Board Comments

• The next board meeting is scheduled for June 18, 2026 at Woodland City Hall, with final budget adoption, a public hearing on the Urban Water Management Plan, and selection of chair and vice chair.
• A short-term summer water transfer agreement may also be brought to the June meeting.
• Board members offered no formal comments beyond the earlier discussions.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved: agenda, January 15 minutes, and Q2 FY 2025-26 treasurer's report.
• No formal vote was taken on the budget; it will return for final adoption on June 18, 2026.
• The DER project is not approved for construction; the board expects further discussion, and staff are considering a study session or June discussion before any commitment.
• The 10th anniversary event is set for June 2 at 10:00 a.m.; board members encouraged broad community promotion.
• The next regular board meeting is June 18, 2026.