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-Editorial
The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors reorganized during its Dec. 22 meeting, the final board meeting of the year, selecting new leadership for 2026. The board voted to appoint Director Karin Eugenio as board chair for the coming year. Directors also re-elected JB Hamby to serve as vice chair.
Eugenio will replace Director Gina Dockstader, who served as board chair in 2025. Dockstader was recognized by fellow board members for her hard work and dedication during her tenure.
Director Alex Cardenas praised outgoing Chair Gina Dockstader for what he described as steady and impactful leadership before nominating Director Eugenio to serve as board chair for 2026.
Cardenas said the district is “much stronger and incredibly stable, not only from the finance side, the power side, and the water side,” crediting Dockstader’s leadership. He highlighted her role in identifying 270 infrastructure projects to improve grid reliability, noting that several are already underway and represent roughly $500 million in investment. Cardenas also cited her leadership on Colorado River issues, saying, “It has been incredible what we have done under her leadership,” and thanked Dockstader for her service.
In nominating Eugenio, Cardenas described her as a strong ratepayer advocate and praised her work in ensuring developers pay their full share and that the grid remains protected.
He also pointed to her efforts in the Coachella Valley, where she helped cities understand IID’s value and broker joint power authority and joint power association agreements with cities including Indio and La Quinta. Cardenas said Eugenio has also played a key role representing the district in Washington, D.C., through the American Public Power Association. “I think having a chairwoman on this board who’s a ratepayer advocate is overdue,” Cardenas said, before formally nominating Eugenio for the position.
In her opening remarks as the new chair, Eugenio said the district is approaching “an unprecedented deadline” as the seven Colorado River Basin states work toward new water-sharing agreements. Eugenio said IID has continued to conserve water, live within its means, and help stabilize critically low reservoir levels, adding that with JB Hamby serving as California’s Colorado River commissioner, “we are in good hands,” and that the board fully supports his work.
She also highlighted investments in the district’s power system aimed at increasing autonomy and self-reliance while maintaining low rates and managing risk, and said the district will continue focusing on community and public benefit programs to assist those most in need. Eugenio concluded by thanking district leadership and staff for their guidance, professionalism, and support.
In other agenda items, the IID Board approved two actions, including a contract amendment to continue management of the Salton Sea Air Quality Mitigation Program and a resolution establishing safeguards to protect electric ratepayers from financial risk tied to large, new industrial loads.
The board approved Amendment No. 4 to a service agreement with Formation Environmental LLC to extend program management services for the Salton Sea Air Quality Mitigation Program through March 31, 2026. The amendment provides up to $979,678 for three months of additional professional services while the district completes a solicitation for a new contract.
The Salton Sea program was accepted by the board in 2016 to meet air quality mitigation requirements tied to water transfer permits under the Quantification Settlement Agreement. Formation Environmental was selected in 2022 to help implement and manage the program. The extension will allow continued analysis and documentation for annual emissions estimates and playa exposure assessments, preparation of the 2025–26 proactive dust control plan, ongoing data collection, performance monitoring of existing dust control projects, support for projects under development, and monitoring of the piezometer network.
Funding for the amendment will be provided through the Quantification Settlement Agreement Joint Powers Authority, with no net cost to the district’s Water Department, according to staff.
In a separate action, the board adopted Resolution No. 37-2025, establishing guiding principles for evaluating large, new industrial electric loads, including data centers. District officials said growing interest in such projects has increased the need for clear safeguards and system planning.
The resolution affirms that the district’s role is limited to utility responsibilities and does not include land-use or permitting decisions. It sets principles aimed at protecting existing ratepayers, maintaining grid reliability, ensuring full cost recovery from requesting customers, relying on expert analysis, and promoting transparency.
Under the resolution, costs associated with new large loads, including infrastructure and system upgrades, would be borne by the requesting customers. The resolution directs the general manager to develop and implement policies and procedures consistent with these principles and to return to the board with recommendations as needed.
