The board approved contracts for independent groundwater model review and to begin a new Prop 218 funding/outreach process. Members warned a cash shortfall could trigger state intervention, citing the Tule example where state staff discussed ~$35/acre-foot pumping fees plus annual well charges. A Prop 26 extraction fee was discussed as a possible option.
The board approved Option 2 of the FY 2026–27 budget with $520K for well mitigation (not to be spent without outside funding) and discussed a $16/acre-foot sustainable yield reservation fee concept. Staff said the Tule Southeast interim plan is targeted for June 2027 and Tulare Lake may follow; a revised GSP is slated for March 2027. The board also amended its allocation policy, removing export restrictions and replacing them with detailed reporting requirements.
The board's proposed meter policy requiring flow meters on wells pumping over 2 acre-feet failed after Director Neves said he would vote no over document quality concerns; a revised version is expected in June. The board approved releasing an RFQ to hire a consultant for Prop 218 fee election administration. Staff reported that all five sub-basin GSA managers have agreed to coordinate on a single Groundwater Sustainability Plan targeting submission in Q1 2027.
Board approved the Well Mitigation Policy: up to $40,000 for a replacement domestic well and $10,000 for one-time water quality treatment, supported by a planned $1.5M reserve. Geosyntec reported State Water Board staff recommended denying eight Tule subbasin fee-exclusion requests; hearing is April 21. Coordination was emphasized.
The Board directed staff to use a single subsidence minimum threshold across the GSA, with the exact 2020 baseline value to be developed by staff and the Growers Committee and brought back for approval. Staff said the State Water Board wants the updated GSP to address new subsidence BMPs, which may extend the schedule. A $100 late registration fee was approved for wells over 2 acre feet not registered by April 30, 2026.
