The Board approved a $35,000 contract for satellite-based ET monitoring that will support field-level water use estimates. One monitoring well site near Ripon’s CNG facility is moving forward, with two more locations under evaluation using $2.1 million in ARPA funds. The Groundwater Authority plans to directly manage groundwater level monitoring after raising data quality concerns with the county program.
The board discussed adopting satellite-based water monitoring technology to better track agricultural water use, with an estimated annual cost of $30,000-$35,000. The proposed 2026 budget shows a 9.4% increase to $427,000, primarily driven by expanded technical consulting needs and regulatory requirements. Staff is also considering establishing an internal groundwater monitoring network to supplement existing county monitoring efforts, as groundwater levels aren't rebounding as expected...
