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Plumas County Flood Control District approves sale of 2,025 acre‑feet of carryover state water
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Summary
The Plumas County Flood Control and Water Conservation District approved selling 2,025 acre‑feet of carryover state water to Rosedale Rio Bravo Water Storage District for $374,625. Board members said the one‑time sale will help stabilize district finances while retaining county water rights.
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Plumas County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, voted Feb. 18 to approve an agreement to sell 2,025 acre‑feet of carryover state water to Rosedale Rio Bravo Water Storage District for a total of $374,625.
Rob, a Flood Control representative, told the board the sale follows recent Department of Water Resources amendments that allow the district to transfer carryover water outside the county. He said outside counsel and county attorneys analyzed recent market activity and recommended a sale price of about $185 per acre‑foot, significantly higher than the roughly $115 per acre‑foot the state historically charged for allocations.
Board members pressed for details on financial sustainability and terms. Supervisor McGowan asked whether the sale represents a one‑time infusion or a recurring revenue source; Rob said the district’s loans related to past operations have been paid off and that the carryover sale is a lump‑sum, short‑time transaction intended to stabilize the district and avoid deficits. Rob emphasized that the district was not relinquishing its underlying water rights and that the sale covered only carryover that had not been used in recent years.
Members of the public asked where the water is stored and whether the transaction relates to pending litigation against the Department of Water Resources. Rob replied the water is held in San Luis Reservoir and characterized the allocation as “paper water” tracked by the state; he said the sale is unrelated to the county’s litigation. He told the board the buyer would take delivery at the storage point in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
Supervisor comments emphasized local benefits: supervisors said proceeds could support flood‑control solvency and drainage projects in flood‑prone neighborhoods, where gas‑tax funds cannot be used. After discussion, the board moved, seconded and approved the agreement.
The Flood Control District adjourned and reconvened as the Plumas County Board of Supervisors. The sale is effective Feb. 18, 2025, according to the approved agreement; the district retains its ongoing allocation of 2,700 acre‑feet and the ability to transfer any unused allocation in future years.
