JB Hamby - IID Director Division 2

04/01/2026

Back by popular demand! Launching the second year of the GLOW Grant Program 💡✨

Safer parks 🌳 brighter fields 🏟️ stronger communities 💪⚡

Got a project? Apply now! 📝🔥

IID Announces up to $35,000 in Grant Funds for Projects that Light Up Community Spaces

03/28/2026

🚙 Saturday afternoon drive! Newly completed Mulberry Inline Reservoir on the Mulberry Lateral by Mulberry School — will help conserve water and improve service to users with new flexibility. Also, the Holtville Wetlands completed in partnership with the City Of Holtville, Bureau of Reclamation, and IID.

03/21/2026

⚡️ Building for tomorrow, today!

03/21/2026

Powering our community, together! ⚡💧

Had a great day out in the field with El Centro Councilmembers Sonia Carter and Claudia Camarena, and Heber Public Utility District Director Delfino Matus for a behind-the-scenes look at how IID delivers reliable energy across the Imperial and Coachella valleys.

We covered it all 🔌
📜 The history of public power
⚙️ How generation, transmission, and distribution work together
💡 Programs that help our customers save money and energy

Stops included:
📍 El Centro Generating Station – checking out the future Unit 4 Repower Project
👷‍♂️ A live linemen demonstration in action
🌊 Drop 4 on the All-American Canal – where water meets power
🌋 Heber Geothermal Plant – clean, renewable energy at work
🔋 Battery Energy Storage – strengthening reliability for our grid

These tours are all about transparency, education, and partnership 🤝 working our local leaders and seeing firsthand how IID is investing in our community's future.

The work continues, and we’re proud to serve 💪⚡

03/17/2026

Apply!

NEWS RELEASE 03/17/2026 - IID Accepting Applications for its Summer 2026 Paid Internship Program

The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) announces that the application process for its Summer 2026 Paid Internship Program has opened, offering students a unique opportunity to gain practical work experience, develop professional skills, and make meaningful connections—all while earning a competitive salary.

“The contributions of our interns help advance IID’s mission and vision as a community-owned utility committed to providing reliable and cost-effective services, which are important to us all,” said Marcy Rivera, IID’s Human Resources Department Manager, noting that about 5% of current District employees began their journey as interns.

IID has had an internship program for most of the past 35 years, with an average of 30 students each summer. Through it, students gain experience in their field of study, network with industry professionals, and work on real projects and initiatives. Fields of study include public administration, business, agriculture, environmental science, engineering, computer science, finance, or a related field.

“Investing in students today helps ensure our region has the skilled workforce it needs tomorrow,” said IID Chairwoman Karin Eugenio. “Through our internship program, students gain valuable experience while learning how a public utility serves its community.”

In 2025, several students came from the Border Region Talent Pipeline K-16 Collaborative, underlining that internships are a vital link between education and the local workforce by aligning academic learning with industry needs.

Requirements:
• 18 years or older
• Currently enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Majoring in one of the listed fields of study or a related field
• Available to commit to a full-time internship for the summer

Applications must be received by 5 p.m., Thursday, March 26.

To apply, visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iid. Select “Student Aide.”

03/10/2026

🌊 The Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat is creating more than 9,000 acres of new habitat at the Salton Sea, making it one of the largest restoration efforts underway in California.

Today I visited the site with partners from the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources. After decades of inaction at the Salton Sea, it is truly gratifying to see a project of this scale finally underway. Even more encouraging was seeing lots of American White Pelicans back at the Sea loafing on specially built islands.

Through our partnership with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the Imperial Irrigation District helped secure $250 million in federal funding to help make this progress possible. 💧🌾

03/10/2026

Strategic planning! Doing it every two years sets the course for the next two. Check it out!

IID’s Board of Directors has adopted the new 2026–2027 Strategic Plan, outlining key priorities that will guide investments, modernization efforts, and partnerships over the next two years.

The plan focuses on:

✔ Strengthening infrastructure
✔ Managing water resources responsibly
✔ Keeping power reliable and affordable
✔ Building a resilient workforce

Learn more: www.iid.com/strategicplan

03/05/2026

Federal proposals for Colorado River cuts could unfairly and illegally shift the burden onto California and the Lower Basin.

As California’s lead negotiator, I made it clear: any plan must respect the 1922 Colorado River Compact and the Law of the River that protect our water rights and the Imperial Valley.

We will continue fighting to protect our farms, our communities, and California’s rightful share of the Colorado River. 💧🌾

Read more:

California and other downstream states are criticizing the Trump administration’s options for dealing with the Colorado River crisis.

03/04/2026

💧 The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the Imperial Valley. Our farms, our economy, and our communities depend on it.

As California’s Colorado River Commissioner, I am directly involved in the negotiations that will determine how the river is managed after 2026. California recently made it clear to the federal government that any proposal must respect the 1922 Colorado River Compact and the laws that protect our state’s water rights.

⚖️ California will defend its legal rights.
🌾 Imperial Valley must be protected.

I will continue fighting to ensure California and the Imperial Valley receive the water we are entitled to under the law while working toward a responsible long-term solution for the Colorado River.

SACRAMENTO — California water officials issued a formal warning to the federal government Monday, asserting that current draft plans for managing the Colorado River after 2026 lack a sound legal

02/28/2026

💧The power of water! These hydroelectric plants are some of IID’s cheapest and greenest sources of power. But after 85 years, they need some TLC. Reinvesting in these community assets will keep them in top shape for decades to come.

02/15/2026

Always a great time at the Heber Seniors Club ❤️

We shared energy-saving tips and information about payment assistance programs to help our seniors lower their bills, and brought a little Valentine’s cheer with gift bags for their luncheon. 💝

Grateful for the warm welcome and the wonderful conversation!

02/14/2026

🚨 Today I released a statement through the Colorado River Board of California regarding where we stand in the Colorado River negotiations.

These are not easy conversations. The stakes are high for California, for the Imperial Valley, and for the entire Southwest.

But I remain committed to one thing above all else: protecting California’s lawful water rights while pushing for practical, durable solutions that keep the river system stable for the long term.

We have already stepped up with real conservation and real sacrifices. Any path forward must be balanced, equitable, and grounded in the Law of the River.

I will continue working with our Basin partners, the federal government, and our local communities to make sure California’s voice is steady and firm.

The Colorado River matters to every family, every farm, and every business that depends on it. I take that responsibility seriously.

For the past three years, California has worked in good faith with the seven basin states and the federal government to establish sustainable post-2026 operations for the Colorado River.