The board discussed a draft groundwater allocation framework requiring a 14% reduction in pumping by 2026, with the district benefiting from legal exemptions that allow recovery of approximately 30,000 acre feet annually due to their surface water imports. A well mitigation program will launch in January 2026 at an initial cost of $300,000 split among member agencies to assist domestic well owners affected by groundwater management activities. The framework must be submitted by January 2026.
The board reviewed a $35.6 million capital budget for transmission and distribution infrastructure improvements, representing a $7.4 million increase driven by growth in several service areas and critical equipment needs. Staff reported continued material cost inflation of 20-40% annually with supply chain challenges creating 3-5 year lead times for major equipment. The district is also moving forward with regulating reservoir projects that could save up to 30,000 acre-feet of water annually once completed.
