Satellite data indicated land subsidence east of Herald, and directors discussed it could lead to adjusted groundwater thresholds in the upcoming five-year GSP update. The board reviewed a recharge project operating at about 10% of permitted capacity and discussed grant options. A balanced $503,000 FY 2026–2027 budget was approved.
Board adopted the recharge project MND addendum (pump upgrades could raise diversion capacity from ~8,345 to ~20,500 gpm) and approved an interim amendment removing Sloughhouse RCD from the SASb MOU and updating cost shares. SASb costs drop next FY ($657,050 to $195,000) as managers opted not to do a full GSP update. Cosumnes and OHWD budgets were reviewed; action planned for June.
LAFCO annexation remains pending completion of the MSR, which staff said is waiting on a final accounting report; after annexation, the district expects to pursue a Prop 218 fee study for the expanded district. Recharge season was described as the most productive on record, with Rooney delivering ~150 acre-feet and Tiger estimated at roughly double that before cutoff dates passed.
The South American Subbasin remains in excellent condition with no undesirable results, adding 7,000 acre-feet of storage in the past year while staying well below sustainable yield. The first five-year SGMA periodic evaluation is underway with a draft targeted by the end of June. Recharge at Rooney has resumed after pump work, with operations continuing as long as flows remain adequate.
District is completing installation of three stream gauges under a $250,000 state grant, with data expected to be publicly available by fall 2026. Sloughhouse RCD is considering withdrawing from the South American Sub-Basin GSA due to $10,000 annual and $24,000 GSP cost shares. Municipal Service Review required for district expansion is progressing through LAFCO, with the board approving an additional $8,000 for engineering work on boundary adjustments and legal descriptions.
