Staff said a State Water Board interim plan for the Friant Kern Canal area could result in pumping restrictions within about three miles of the canal, affecting some Tea Pot Dome lands, and Tule Subbasin GSAs are developing an alternative plan. Staff reported one landowner in 16.71 exceedance with 30 days to cure. Friant Water Authority reviewed El Niño scenarios that could trigger uncontrolled-season releases as early as Nov–Dec.
Board members discussed frustrations with the GSA interim plan process and expected more clarity at a joint meeting next week. Financials through June 30 were presented and a motion and second to approve were made. An assessment rate of 1.41 was discussed; several budget/revenue figures were garbled. They noted timing limits and a new assessment could take about a year to implement. Board members raised concerns about consultant spending and facilitated meetings yielding little value.
The board approved joining a unified Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the entire Tule Subbasin, seen as the clearest path out of the State Water Board's probationary process, with cost estimates returning in May. A $15,000 contribution to a subbasin-wide domestic well mitigation reserve fund was also approved. Water supply remains strong, with a 100% Class One allocation currently in place and over 1,600 acre-feet of carryover providing a buffer against any potential reduction.
