Placer County Water Agency Board Member Gray Allen (center) is honored with a resolution recognizing his decades of public service at his final Board meeting. Pictured with members of the PCWA Board of Directors (from left): Primo Santini, Josh Alpine, Gray Allen, Robert Dugan, and Chris Wilson. Photo by Dea Burlew

AUBURN, CA (MPG) - The Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors last week honored longtime Board Member Graham “Gray” Allen for his decades of public service and received an update on regional water supply conditions and Sierra snowpack.

Allen, who has represented District 1 since 2006, will retire from public office effective April 15, 2026. During the meeting, the Board adopted a formal resolution recognizing his nearly 20 years of leadership and more than three decades of service to the region.

The resolution highlights Allen’s role in advancing water supply reliability, strengthening regional partnerships, and guiding the agency through major challenges, including drought, wildfire impacts, and long-term infrastructure planning.

“Gray has been a steady and thoughtful leader for this agency and our region,” said Board Chair Robert Dugan. “His commitment to reliable water, strong communities, and responsible stewardship has made a lasting difference.”

Throughout his tenure, Allen helped lead key initiatives to improve water supply reliability for Placer County while balancing environmental responsibilities and the needs of a growing region.

The Board and General Manager also discussed next steps to fill the upcoming vacancy following Allen’s retirement, with additional information on the recruitment process expected in the coming weeks.

Also during the meeting, the Board received a hydrology update outlining current water supply conditions. Staff reported that PCWA’s watershed snowpack is currently at just 5–13% of average at key monitoring sites, reflecting historically low conditions for this time of year. However, combined reservoir storage remains strong at approximately 150% of average for early April, following a series of early winter storms that delivered significant rainfall.

“These conditions are an important indicator of our water supply outlook,” said Shane Motley. “While snowpack is low, our reservoirs are in a strong position, and we are actively managing our system to ensure reliable service for our customers.”

PCWA relies on Sierra snowmelt as a primary water source for homes, businesses, and agriculture across Placer County. This year, with more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow, much of that water has already made its way into storage. Staff noted that proactive system management and long-term planning remain essential to maintaining reliability, regardless of year-to-year variability, and emphasized the importance of continued water stewardship.

About PCWA

Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) is the primary water resource agency for Placer County, California, with a broad range of responsibilities including water resource planning and management, retail and wholesale supply of drinking water and irrigation water, and production of hydroelectric energy.