Water Rights Administration Support

EKI is providing general water rights administration support to Utica Water & Power Authority (UWPA) by providing technical assistance with analyses and review of its pre-1914 claims and contractual rights to support engagement with SWRCB and/or other agencies, assistance with annual diversion and use filings, technical expertise and knowledge of local watershed and contract conditions, water shortage planning, etc. UWPA’s rights are in the complex Stanislaus River Watershed and are multi-layered considering other pre-1914 rights holders, decree, and contract constraints, other post-1914 rights holders, and coordination with Reclamation given its downstream facilities (e.g., New Melones Reservoir).

Specific examples of work undertaken have included technical review and coordination with UWPA’s legal counsel to review its contract entitlements and water rights vulnerabilities, recommending actions to better protect and maximize use of its claims. EKI has performed review of other water rights claims in the watershed which have the potential to conflict or harm UWPA and has also coordinated with other rights holders to propose multi-jurisdiction modeling and analyses to improve quantification of several users’ rights. EKI has developed confidential materials, technical memorandums, presentations to UWPA’s Board of Directors, its ratepayers, and the public, and intricate spreadsheet models used to assist UWPA staff with their reporting and water rights management efforts.

Outcome

EKI’s experience under this work with complex multi-agency coordination, multifaceted water rights topics, contract entitlements, and engagement with SWRCB helps UWPA navigate unprecedented issues (e.g., curtailment of pre-1914 rights) and are all pertinent to the proposed Water Rights Services for the City. EKI continues to support UWPA given its knowledge and expertise with these issues.