Residents near the proposed Phase 3 flood wall raised concerns during general public comment about safety, river access, and quality of life, and requested a dedicated neighborhood meeting as the project nears a reported 35% design milestone. Directors Alessio, Gallagher, and Manfree voiced support for stakeholder outreach and discussed considering newer approaches and design elements, noting the original plans are over 20 years old.
FY 2026-27 GSA budget adopted with an estimated 50–60% fee reduction by drawing down fund balance rather than charging full program cost. Supervisors supported moving toward use-based/metered fees, with policy items expected late July/early August. Staff said reduced fees aren't sustainable long-term; Ramos requested fund balance targets and exploring multi-year averaging for predictability.
Napa County announced a new groundwater sustainability fee that will be assessed for agricultural, public water, and domestic users; growers should contact staff by July 10 if they qualify for adjusted rates or waivers. Draft incentive concepts for water conservation practices — including meter installation, cover cropping, and irrigation improvements — were presented but not yet adopted.
The Flood Control and Water Conservation District board approved a $93,870,379 FY 2026–27 budget, with major allocations toward active flood control construction and Measure A projects. Updated hydraulic modeling shows flood wall heights along the Imola-to-Hat reach may be slightly lower than in the 1998 GDM.
The public draft 2026 Water Availability Analysis, released for a 60-day comment period through May 26, 2026, proposes raising the Tier 1 groundwater use criterion on the Napa Valley floor from 0.3 to 0.5 acre-feet per acre for new and replacement wells. The Water Year 2025 Annual Report reported undesirable results for both groundwater storage and interconnected surface water. The draft WAA also introduces new Tier 3 protective standards for wells within 1,500 feet of significant streams.
