El Dorado Irrigation District Temporary Reservoir Re-Operation Water Transfer Project

The El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) plans to temporarily re-operate three of its reservoirs—Weber, Caples, and Silver Lakes—to make up to 5,000 acre-feet of water available for transfer to buyers during the summer and fall of 2026. This water is surplus to EID’s own needs in 2026 and 2027 and would otherwise be used by EID customers or stored in its system. Up to 620 acre-feet could come from Weber Reservoir, with the remaining up to 4,880 acre-feet available from Caples and Silver Lakes combined. To maintain its own supply during the transfer period, EID will use stored water from Jenkinson Lake to meet consumptive demands, avoiding the need to draw from Caples and Silver Lakes. All reservoir operations will strictly follow historical flow patterns and release schedules, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements for lake levels, minimum streamflows, and ramping rates, without disrupting ecological or operational standards. The transfer is framed as a temporary and non-disruptive re-operation, designed to deliver water to external buyers while safeguarding EID’s obligations and environmental commitments. The project has been announced as a forecast with no solicitation number, and the point of contact for inquiries is Brian Deason, EID’s Environmental Resources Manager. The activity is centered in Placerville, California, and the full project details are accessible through an official state environmental tracking link. No set-aside provisions or NAICS codes are specified, and the initiative is positioned purely as a water availability opportunity rather than a procurement or bidding event.