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.
The board approved a regional water banking feasibility study and reduced 2025 water allocations due to updated overdraft calculations, while moving forward with collection procedures for unpaid groundwater fees. Multiple implementation projects are progressing including domestic well mitigation and mandatory well registration requirements.
