The board discussed plans to mail personalized water accounting statements and hold workshops for demand management outreach, noting the staffing transition is within the current budget. A member also flagged new subsidence reports across the Sacramento Valley. The board authorized counsel to finalize a county staffing MOU so a County Management Analyst can serve as CGA administrator, with the intent to transition away from the current third-party contractor over time.
The board discussed needing a demand management framework in place by the start of 2027 and emphasized grower outreach before harvest season. Members discussed possible funding options—including extraction fees, wellhead fees, and per-household fees—and asked staff to coordinate outreach materials with David's Engineering. The board also reached consensus to seek a Prop 4 grant-writing proposal from David's Engineering, with formal approval expected next month.
The board adopted a $1.45/acre operations fee for FY 2026-27 and approved a ~$632k baseline budget (~$650k revenue). Discussion noted a ~$65k shortfall after last year's fee reduction and highlighted upcoming work on demand management (due Jan 2027) and domestic well mitigation. The demand management program is advancing with legal and procedural complexity around potential pumping fees still being worked through.
The board held a discussion exploring a per-well fee as an alternative to the previously failed weighted-ballot assessment, but made no decision on a fee structure or legal pathway. Staff was directed to bring back an updated Prop 4 grant-writer RFP by the May meeting; DWR strongly encouraged applying. The demand management ad hoc reported that their consultant has developed a draft decision matrix with stress-level triggers, but key thresholds and water accounting methods stay unresolved.
Groundwater storage gains continued into Water Year 2024-25, though recovery remains uneven with some western boundary wells lagging behind. Subsidence has slowed but one area northwest of Arbuckle has accumulated 0.3 feet since January 2024, warranting ongoing attention. A groundwater demand management program is targeting January of next year, with legal and technical elements under development and discussion planned for the April 10 joint meeting.
