In a contested race for three seats on the Scotts Valley Water District Board of Directors, Dave Hodgin is the longest serving incumbent running for his fourth term on the board. Initially appointed to the board in 2003, Hodgin has seen the district through rate increases, drought and a collapsed well.
Hodgin explains his number one priority is the recharge of the Santa Margarita aquifer, the sole source of Scotts Valley’s water supply, and takes some credit for bringing the overdraft to an end not long after he joined the board 15 years ago.
“Scotts Valley had a history of over drafting the aquifer from 1980’s and 90’s,” Hodgin explained. “But the water supply has been reasonably level since I joined the board. I’ve always been particularly concerned about recovering the water supply in our aquifer. It’s a great place to store water- our best insurance against extended drought.”
There are some differences on the board regarding policies to recharge the aquifer, according to Hodgin. Hodgin believes the “best opportunity” for recharge is drawing water from the San Lorenzo during the excess flow periods in winter, and resting the wells pumping water from the aquifer for ScottsValley. But Hodgin recognizes that there are “all sorts of political issues involved in that because other people have control of that water, and they don’t necessarily have to give it to us,” Hodgin said.
Hodgin’s “second choice” is recharging the aquifer by injecting recycled waste water back into it, taking advantage of recycled water treatment infrastructure the Scotts Valley Water District invested in about 15 years ago. But additional treatment is required before recycled water can be injected back into the aquifer, according to Hodgin, with standards requiring “a forth level of treatment,”- that will require more investment in recycled water treatment.
In terms of growth, Hodgin says he would “love to have the Town Center built” during his next term on the board, and has been concerned about housing projects proposed at the Avisa Tech site, Valley Gardens Golf Course, as well Polo Ranch Road. Hodgin takes a longer term view of this proposed growth, saying he’s seen a lot of projects proposed and seen developers come and go over the years.
“I would hate to see the loss of open space at the Valley Gardens Golf Course, but at the same time the owner is stuck with a business not making any money. These things don’t happen overnight,” Hodgin said. “And we have to remember: the city decides what growth we’re going to have, and our job is to supply the water.”
Hodgin said he is proud that over his tenure on the board the reputation of Scotts Valley having “really terrible water- with a foul taste and odor,” has mostly been resolved. Hodgin is concerned that the district is now about 50 years old, and the life-span of many types of pipe the district depends on is about 50 years
”We took a gut punch in our five year capital improvement plan with the collapse of our prime well last year- that needed to be replaced at a high cost of $1.6 million, but we had no choice but to do it,” Hodgin said.
Hodgin, 84, came to ScottsValley in 1973 to take charge of a troubled local business, and moved to ScottsValley in 1977. Professionally, Hodgin has worked a Certified Management Consultant. In addition, he has served on the boards of several associations and community organizations over the years, and is currently “deeply involved” with the Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild and Scotts Valley Senior Life Association.
Hodgin’s deep experience with executive management and dedication to understanding the business of water districts led him to serve as chair of the Central Coast Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), a major, state-wide water policy and professional organization. Hodgin also serves on the board of directors for the ACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority, which insures water districts across the state.
Hodgin said he is “very pleased” with how the existing water board conducts its business in “a collaborative, businesslike and respectful manner,” and says that’s one of the key reasons he wants to be re-elected to the board. “It’s a highly functional board and a well-run agency- and I’d like to stay with that,” Hodgin said.
