The board approved policies and procedures for solar interconnection to a planned 500kV transmission line, targeting an application window starting mid-June 2026 with intake and validation through the summer. The board also directed staff to prioritize larger solar projects in the interconnection queue to minimize transmission infrastructure on district land, with engineering cluster study results expected by January 2027.
Water allocation remains at 20% after a dry March and low snowpack; staff is pushing for a potential 5–9% increase but there is no guarantee. A supplemental water program covering ~203,000 acres is active at an estimated $775–$800/AF, with late applications still accepted. Groundwater data shows uplift from low pumping, though neighboring subsidence may be encroaching.
Four priority groundwater recharge and community resilience projects are being finalized for state submission in April, with approval anticipated around May 2026. The MLRP Plan adoption has been delayed to later this year after DOC requested revisions to define land repurposing areas and refine scoring/plan elements. Upcoming outreach (including May 6 and potentially May 19) will provide program updates.
Four priority projects will be submitted to DOC in April 2026: Pastajero, Los Gatos, Westside Cooling Center, and Section 21 Recharge. Overall, projects submitted by the priority deadline requested about $18.7M vs $7.7M available ($7.3M for implementation). Two alternates (Rock & JK Farms, Panoche Creek) will be submitted to DOC in summer 2026. Papa's Project scoring was deferred to a later side meeting.
Initial CVP allocation opened at 15%; staff expects it to rise as March pumping data and conditions evolve. Reclamation announced $540M in California non-reimbursable funding under the Big Beautiful Bill (incl. $235M DMC, $200M Friant-Kern, $50M San Luis Canal, $40M Shasta planning). Board suggested staff to draft land-stewardship-linked allocation rule changes; a draft could return April or May.
