The board approved raising the per-acre groundwater assessment from $1.50 to $2.00 for 2027, citing anticipated consulting costs tied to the updated sustainability plan. Staff reported the State Board discussed a possible pumping moratorium along the Friant-Kern Canal as early as April of next year, framed as a starting offer tied to subsidence concerns. The board formally set aside existing allocation and new-well policies following litigation, with revised drafts expected in two weeks.
The board stayed implementation of the groundwater allocation policy pending revisions, including registration/reporting for non-agricultural use and no year-to-year carryover of unused water. The board approved $36,086.39 (18.398%) as its share of a $196,000 sub-basin model update to refine native yield by GSA and aquifer. Sub-basin GSAs are also progressing toward a single unified Groundwater Sustainability Plan targeting completion in Q1 2027.
