Stay on top of SGMA

Paulsell Phase 1—about six miles of canal expansion funded by a $14.4M grant—was reported complete, designed for up to 180 cfs. Phase 2 work was discussed for this winter (design proposal expected soon). District groundwater pumping remains minimal at under 200 acre-feet, with surface water rights handling most supply needs. Proposition 4 grant funding was discussed as a future opportunity.

The Board unanimously adopted Resolution 1365 approving the 2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan and DWA's Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Staff and the consultant said groundwater supplies can meet projected urban demands over 25 years. Director Gracia asked about the Cadiz water import project; the consultant said it was not included in the plan, and Gracia urged monitoring of its potential regional impact.

The board approved revised land-subsidence SMCs (including aqueduct-specific criteria) and approved removing interconnected surface water SMCs after DWR indicated the GSP already states none exist in the basin. A ~$579K EKI task order was approved to support GSP implementation through April 2027, with ~$126K grant-reimbursable and the remainder split among three member districts. EKI also shared details on Proposition 4 SGMA grant funding totaling $386 million, with no cost share required.

Scott River curtailments were triggered after flows fell below minimums; snowpack is 6% of normal (2% of April 1 average). The Board emphasized Jan. 1, 2027 conservation compliance, with technical assistance prioritized over penalties. Dry conditions and declining natural flows point to a challenging summer statewide.

The board approved a $1.9M budget for FY 2026-2027, increasing member agency assessments by roughly $250,000. Funding of $750,000 was allocated to expand the monitoring well network to approximately 10 additional wells, while the domestic well mitigation program was reduced from $1M to $500,000 due to minimal activity — no applications have been funded to date.