Board discussed an offer from Arvin Edison for Class 2 water and directed staff to prioritize using the available 16,000 acre‑feet for in‑district recharge to address overdraft concerns, rather than selling it now. Multiple recharge ponds are nearing completion to handle incoming water. The Board also approved the 2025 GSP Annual Report, with costs expected to be under the $96,000 budget.
Board approved a 37-acre recharge pond construction ($150,738) while advancing methodology for subsidence mitigation triggers that would activate demand management. Staff revealed District faces a 30,000-40,000 acre-foot annual overdraft even without external pumping, requiring internal water use reductions regardless of surrounding area actions. Board adopted the 2025 Water Management Plan Update, while delaying a second recharge pond bid pending additional contractor quotes.
The Board approved purchasing a new equipment trailer for $29,029 to replace an aging unit that cannot safely transport newer machinery. A major pipeline replacement project was authorized for the failing Number 13 line, which required six emergency repairs in 2024 and serves 220 acres. The district will also move forward with a recharge well drilling program on district-owned ponds, with wells spaced approximately 300 feet apart at $2,000-$3,000 per hole to improve groundwater recharge ...
The Board unanimously approved a pilot groundwater extraction fee program that will charge growers for pumping above set thresholds, aiming to reduce the district's water use by 11.4%, or 30,000-40,000 acre feet, annually. They consider satellite-based monitoring systems, IrriWatch or Land IQ, rather than physical well meters to track usage. Additionally, the Board approved redesigning a recharge pond to increase capacity from 25 to 50 acre feet.
