Metropolitan Water District chair outlines hiring priorities, Delta Conveyance and conservation milestones

Alan Ortega, chair of the Metropolitan Water District board, gave the San Fernando City Council an update on Sept. 2, saying the board is continuing a confidential search for a new general manager and remains engaged on the proposed Delta Conveyance Project while advancing regional conservation policies. Ortega said the search process began in May 2025 and involves the entire 38‑member Metropolitan board. "The hiring process began in May 2025… the entire 38 member board of directors at Metropolitan is involved in developing the process," he said, and he emphasized candidate deliberations are confidential to protect applicants. Ortega said the board has not eliminated any candidates and expected further interviews next week. Why it matters: Metropolitan is the regional wholesaler for Southern California water agencies; its general manager will help steer major projects, budgeting and negotiations on Colorado River supply after 2026. Ortega told the council the board has been working on several priorities. He listed qualities the next general manager must have — managing labor relations, implementing Metropolitan’s climate adaptation plan for water, evaluating projects for regional resiliency and affordability, negotiating Colorado River post‑2026 guidelines with other states, and coordinating with state and federal officials on water policy. He also described recent board actions that affect member agencies: a doubling of the turf‑replacement rebate for commercial and institutional sites and a newly adopted framework allowing Metropolitan member agencies to exchange water with one another through the Metropolitan system. On the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP), Ortega said the board’s decision‑making timeline depends on state legislation and court outcomes. He described the DCP matter as separate from Metropolitan’s hiring and said, "the DCP decision making process will not end at Metropolitan until 2027 if the governor's proposals prevail in the legislature in the coming week," adding that even if legislation passes it would not immediately trigger construction. Ortega said litigation and funding issues could take years to resolve and described the board’s position as seeking completion of engineering studies so any future decision is informed. Ortega also addressed questions about his past interactions with a private project developer (Cadiz). He said he had not been paid by that company and that prior letters or advocacy were in the context of his previous representation of small water systems; he said no item regarding that project was on Metropolitan’s current docket. Council members asked about Metropolitan voting weight and local influence; Ortega said San Fernando’s vote is 0.07%, which he noted is a small share of the board’s voting power. He agreed to consider a city briefing or workshop to explain Metropolitan programs and the Delta project to San Fernando residents and staff. Looking ahead, Ortega said Metropolitan will be involved in Colorado River negotiations in the coming year and that the hiring process and project studies will continue over multiple years.