GRASS VALLEY, Calif. December 14, 2011 – The Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors voted unanimously today to oppose the proposed Garden Bar Dam.
As the upstream water provider serving much of Nevada and Placer Counties, the water district, known as NID, could present an insurmountable obstacle to the dam's proponents.
"This is more proof of overwhelming opposition to a new dam on the Bear River," said Peter Van Zant of Sierra Watch.
Opposition comes in response to the South Sutter Water District's invitation to partner on a new dam on the Bear River. Initial efforts have been funded by a consortium of water providers, some as far as 470 miles away. According to preliminary study released in July, urban districts would finance a 300-foot tall dam at Garden Bar Preserve, backing up Bear River water to be shipped through the Delta and end up as far away as Los Angeles County.
But NID viewed the new dam as a potential threat to its own interests – and its own water. As Board member Nick Wilcox pointed out at today's meeting, "There's nothing in it for us."
With NID joining both Placer and Nevada Counties in voicing unequivocal opposition, the project's original funders – Castaic Lake Water Agency, Palmdale Water District, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, City of Napa, and City of American Canyon – will likely question the viability of the proposal and whether or not to sink more ratepayer money in another round of project funding.
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