Snowpack is well below average with drought conditions returning, though local reservoirs remain near capacity. The Domestic Well Mitigation Program holds ~$2.7M in reserves; directors said summer data (July–Sept) is needed before any reassessment of the GSP fee. A new Summary of Rules booklet covering 2026–2040 allocations and program updates will be mailed to growers this month.
The committee recommended refinements to the Domestic Well Mitigation Program so the $35K cap can cover all reasonable costs needed to restore service. Growers questioned whether the $59/acre fee should change given limited spending so far. 2025 penalties billed: $1.1M (Madera) and ~$650K (Chowchilla); funds are designated for domestic well mitigation. The committee recommended adopting the Chowchilla GDM backstop report.
Staff reported plans to expand Domestic Well Mitigation Program to cover full replacement costs within the existing $35K cap, with no formal action taken. A new tiered demand management and subsidence mitigation program for the Chowchilla Subbasin was presented as informational, with more public input expected before adoption.
Committee approved a three-year allocation support contract with Davids Engineering for $927,000, providing rate stability for growers. New state subsidence guidance creates uncertainty by potentially requiring immediate action rather than the 2040 deadline, prompting concerns about 'moving the goalposts.' The Domestic Well Mitigation Program is now operational, accepting applications with streamlined processes and up to $35,000 in funding per project.
The committee approved rules for a Domestic Well Mitigation Program offering up to $35,000 per property for landowners whose wells failed since 2020 due to groundwater decline, and recommended hiring Davids Engineering for $514,000 to manage the program despite farmer concerns about costs. They also approved moving to a single satellite measurement provider (Hydrosat) to save approximately $300,000 annually, though this decision faced opposition since roughly half of current growers will be forced to switch systems from their existing providers.
