Staff reported Sites next steps in the WSIP update: federal permitting/ROD, draft water rights and draft public benefit contracts possibly in April, and final award likely late 2026. DWR presented the SB 72 framework for the 2028 Water Plan (9M AF target by 2040; advisory committee aimed for March). Kern Fan requested a conjunctive-use reclassification and ~$5.5M early funding; staff recommended approval.
Scott River curtailments were triggered after flows fell below minimums; snowpack is 6% of normal (2% of April 1 average). The Board emphasized Jan. 1, 2027 conservation compliance, with technical assistance prioritized over penalties. Dry conditions and declining natural flows point to a challenging summer statewide.
Curtailments are expected in the Scott and Shasta River watersheds in 2026, with Scott-area snowpack at 1% of average. Statewide snowpack was 16–21% of April 1 average while reservoirs were 119% of average. Environmental groups urged review of Reclamation's draft 2026 Temperature Management Plan under Order 95 and the 2024 NMFS BiOp; staff requested additional modeling and information.
The board extended emergency flow regulations for Scott and Shasta River watersheds until 2031 while developing permanent requirements. Agricultural operators successfully met minimum flow requirements throughout the 2025 irrigation season for the first time, with improved groundwater conditions contributing to better compliance. The Farm Bureau proposed streamlining multiple overlapping regulatory programs into a single coordinated approach to reduce duplicative monitoring and reporting ...
Agricultural experts determined that sufficient data exists to establish nitrogen limits for major crops in some regions, but a landscape-level approach targeting broader areas is more effective than field-specific regulations. Current nitrogen application rates significantly exceed what's needed for groundwater protection, with some cropping systems showing 350+ pounds of excess nitrogen per acre versus the 27 pounds needed for water quality targets. The panel is moving toward identifying...
