On Thursday, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) Chairman Adán Ortega and Interim General Manager Deven Upadhyay addressed collaboration between two of the largest wholesale water agencies in Southern California in light of MWD’s major long-term planning effort. This process aims to chart a course for meeting Southern California’s water resource management needs while rising to the challenges of a changing climate and maintaining its financial sustainability.

Speaking to the Board of the San Diego County Water Authority, Ortega praised the work of Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz, Vice Chair Nick Serrano and General Manager Dan Denham during an era of change at both agencies.

“Through your leadership, barriers between our member agencies are coming down opening new possibilities for greater interdependence in our region that can result in greater reliability, value for our residents, and fiscal health for the entire water supply chain,” Ortega said.

Members of the Metropolitan Water District join the August 2024 SDCWA Board meeting for a robust discussion.

This spring, Katz and Denham spoke to the MWD Board about growing the agencies’ relationship based on water security, affordability and mutual benefits.

Ortega touched on similar themes regarding MWD’s ongoing effort to prepare for a changing climate over the next century via its Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water effort. MWD is trying to chart a course forward with its 26 member agencies that meets the needs of the region while keeping water affordable all in the face of uncertainties caused by the changing climate. Through this process, MWD will consider potential multi-billion-dollar supply projects.

Ortega said the work of the San Diego region’s delegates to the MWD Board have been crucial for helping to chart Southern California’s water future. He thanked Director Tim Smith for leading MWD’s Finance and Asset Management Committee in implementing a two-year budget that was approved without opposition ; Director Marty Miller for his efforts to ensure financial accountability; MWD Secretary Lois Fong-Sakai for establishing a tone of civility at the MWD Board; and MWD Vice Chair Gail Goldberg for her work on MWD’s complex climate adaptation plan.

“Together, during the last two years we have made great progress in steps that are modernizing Metropolitan in the task of climate adaptation,” Ortega said.