The Board received an update that State Water Board staff and members unanimously supported returning the Kaweah GSPs to DWR oversight, marking a major milestone for collaborative groundwater management. A one-year agreement was approved for daily evapotranspiration data to help growers manage water use. Staff also reported on a potential 600 acre-foot water purchase and the need for a broader 2026 importation strategy.
The board approved a budget for 2026, including $3 million for well mitigation and $2 million for water purchases to address sustainability goals. Staff reported positive progress as the State Water Board is recommending the GSA be returned to the Department of Water Resources based on their review of groundwater sustainability plans. The board delayed decision on a daily irrigation management tool costing $0.55 per acre annually, choosing to revisit the proposal ...
Board approved significant changes to water transfer rules, removing zone restrictions and allowing native sustainable yield water transfers anywhere within the district starting in Water Year 2025. They also authorized staff to place liens on properties with unpaid water penalties after unsuccessful collection efforts. Additionally, staff is coordinating with other local agencies to avoid competitive bidding when purchasing available water, with potential budget allocation of $1-2 million.
The board is considering reallocating water between categories to increase transfer flexibility while maintaining current penalty rates of $150-$500 per acre-foot for overages. A popular $400 per acre land fallowing program has received over $1 million in applications, potentially requiring additional funding beyond the current $1 million budget. Water allocations for 2026 are expected to decrease, which could result in higher penalty costs of approximately $100 per acre for growers...
The board approved a simplified land fallowing program at $400 per acre while addressing significant payment collection challenges, with only half of water users paying their doubled rates. Final 2025 water allocations were confirmed with slight reductions due to lower precipitation across the region.
