Water runs were discussed with a target start of March 30 for Lone Tree (~24,000 AF) and around May 1 for CID (~178,000 AF). CID discussed SGMA 'good actor' positioning. Recharge projects: Nebraska-Walnut Phase 2 ~90% and Camden-Wolf ~50%, with flood-release risk noted.
The Board backed Kings Sub-basin groundwater yield framework numbers for Central Kings GSA at about 1.63 acre-feet per acre, based on 2009-2023 data. The district received 12 reverse auction offers for potential recharge basins, averaging about $32,000 per acre excluding two high bids, and reported receiving $1 million in federal reimbursement toward the Wolf Basin land purchase.
The Board approved hiring a municipal financial advisor to help plan financing for up to 1,000 acres of new recharge basins, estimated at about $60 million in capital costs. Staff reported the reverse land auction program to buy basin sites closes January 30th with limited submissions so far. A draft subbasin framework estimates CID’s native safe yield at 1.6 acre-feet per acre, the highest in the Kings Basin.
The Board approved a new 2026 pay structure with five field job classifications and step-based scales, adding about $97,800 to the budget and targeting roughly a 10% increase for field staff. A reverse auction land acquisition program was authorized, with staff to finalize terms, and a $498,000 contract was awarded to GEI Consultants for a canal capacity study using LIDAR and field work.
The Board approved 7 new surface water service applications while wait-listing 12 others pending a canal capacity study, and denied two requests to exit the water service system. Directors authorized up to $200,000 in additional funding for a measurement weir project to address issues with an old sand trap structure discovered during construction. The district is also moving forward with acquiring 100 acres for recharge basins using reserve funds and plans to implement a reverse auction process for competitive property purchases.
