FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Dec. 10, 2024

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO – Mayor Todd Gloria today praised the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) for the agreement it struck with two neighbor agencies late last week at the Colorado River Users Association conference to conserve Colorado River water in Lake Mead and save San Diego regional ratepayers $20 million. It was SDCWA’s second water exchange agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MSD) in two years designed to raise water levels in Lake Mead.

“This agreement reflects the kind of innovative and collaborative solutions we need to ensure water reliability and reduced costs for San Diegans,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “We will continue to push for these kinds of solutions at the Water Authority in order to strike the right balance between affordability, sustainability, and long-term resource management.” 

This comes as the City of San Diego’s representatives to the County Water Authority have been urging SDCWA staff leadership for innovative and creative solutions in their management of agreements to help bring down water rates. The innovative deals in 2023 and 2024 are part of the Water Authority’s efforts to prioritize ratepayer affordability as savings from this year’s agreement will be applied to 2026 wholesale water rates. The water exchanges are funded through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of its wide-ranging efforts to protect the overtaxed Colorado River.  

“For the second year in a row, the Water Authority and its partners have struck a deal to conserve water in Lake Mead and save our local ratepayers approximately $20 million,” said Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano, who also serves as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Gloria. “This is a win-win for all of us and demonstrates how the Water Authority is strategically using its assets to help protect ratepayers and the Colorado River through innovative thinking.” 

The 2024 agreement between IID, MWD and the Water Authority – key to implementing California’s share of the Lower Basin Plan – enabled the additional 50,000 acre-feet to remain in Lake Mead to prevent the lake from reaching critically low levels. Federal funding, two consecutive wet years, and agricultural and urban conservation activities made the consecutive transfers possible.  

The Water Authority looks to build on these water transfers and exchanges, which have demonstrated the ability to both defray costs of historic investments locally and allow for partnership opportunities with other Colorado River water users. The agency is also taking several other steps to address the rising cost of water, including budget cuts, project deferrals, debt refinancing, increasing grant funds and restructuring rates.  

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