The board approved a $168/acre-foot groundwater extraction fee for FY 2026/2027 (5-0, 2 absent). The Executive Director's written report noted two wells remain unregistered, each at $49,500 in penalties as of May 31. Agency Counsel Keith Lemieux discussed the Indian Wells Valley adjudication trial and possible use of a technical expert/State Board review.
Modeling found curtailment during critical dry periods sends less than 10% of saved water to Foster Park, with lag times that can exceed a year. The Board approved the FY 2026/2027 budget and set the extraction-fee adoption item for its next regular meeting in June; the proposed rate is $168/AF based on 4,396 AF. Proposition 4 small-GSA grants of approximately $100K–$200K may become available to offset SGMA implementation costs.
Updated modeling shows most minimum-threshold exceedance events are smaller; staff will proceed with detailed analysis of Event 3 and combined Events 6–8. The five-year GSP periodic evaluation is underway; staff proposed deferring any GSP amendment until after a court physical solution. Ordinance No. 5 was adopted.
The Board approved a first reading of an ordinance that would reduce flowmeter accuracy testing frequency for smaller wells (5–10 year intervals vs. the prior 3–5 year schedule). Staff outlined a modeling plan to study how upstream pumping affects streamflow at Foster Park, with work likely extending into mid‑2026. Monitoring showed the basin did not fully recharge in spring 2025, with declining flows and at least one shallow well going dry.
The board supported exempting small groundwater users (pumping 2-10 acre-feet annually) from costly five-year meter testing requirements, with a formal ordinance amendment to follow. Staff recommended pausing expensive modeling work on surface water depletion analysis to avoid duplicating efforts already underway in the adjudication process. Updated data shows groundwater extraction projections are 6% lower than originally estimated.
