The board approved the 2026 budget of $37.4 million through Resolution 730 while expressing frustration over the Kern SGMA authority's proposed $640,000 budget, questioning high attorney costs and lack of self-funding mechanisms. Major capital projects including the Friant-Kern Canal Pump Station and Reuse of Produced Water Project continue progressing toward completion despite recent weather delays.
The groundwater subbasin is reviewing a new cost-sharing structure that would increase costs for some members based on developed acreage rather than equal sharing. The board significantly reduced participation in the Delta Conveyance Project from 20% to 1% due to high projected costs of $875 per acre-foot. Meanwhile, the produced water reuse project continues progressing with pipeline construction approximately halfway complete.
The board approved a special assessment of $22.29 per acre with notices going out next week and payment due by mid-November. A three-year contract was approved for a Daily ET monitoring tool at 55 cents per acre to provide real-time evapotranspiration data to growers. Staff discovered a significant water accounting discrepancy of approximately 5,800 acre-feet that needs resolution with the agency board.
The district approved a new SGMA special assessment of $22.29 per acre to cover compliance costs and recover $1.5 million in reserves. State Board staff recommended the Kern County Subbasin be returned to state oversight rather than remaining under probationary status, citing positive progress on groundwater sustainability planning. Despite Zone 7 not delivering banked water this year, the district maintained its 1.7 acre-foot per acre water allocation through increased city water supplies...
