On Nov. 10, the Madera County GSA Committee voted 2-0 to recommend removing the domestic well program’s 30-year age cutoff, subject to Board approval. No wells have been drilled; staff reported about 80 applicants in the county process and 75 in a separate Self-Help Enterprises pool. A director requested progress and financial reports. Staff expects no additional FY 2026–27 GSP fee, but a second-half charge remains possible after a fee analysis expected in December or January.
Unpaid 2025 penalties (~$892K across ~80 APNs) were approved by the committee 2-0 as a recommendation for Board adoption of special-assessment resolutions for tax-roll collection; 2024 unpaid items will receive a Notice of Levy. Staff discussed holding off on levying the $59/irrigated-acre GSP fee pending a cost review around Dec 2026. Farm unit scenarios were reviewed showing how growers can pool allocations across parcels to manage extractions and avoid penalties.
Snowpack is well below average with drought conditions returning, though local reservoirs remain near capacity. The Domestic Well Mitigation Program holds ~$2.7M in reserves; directors said summer data (July–Sept) is needed before any reassessment of the GSP fee. A new Summary of Rules booklet covering 2026–2040 allocations and program updates will be mailed to growers this month.
The committee recommended refinements to the Domestic Well Mitigation Program so the $35K cap can cover all reasonable costs needed to restore service. Growers questioned whether the $59/acre fee should change given limited spending so far. 2025 penalties billed: $1.1M (Madera) and ~$650K (Chowchilla); funds are designated for domestic well mitigation. The committee recommended adopting the Chowchilla GDM backstop report.
Staff reported plans to expand Domestic Well Mitigation Program to cover full replacement costs within the existing $35K cap, with no formal action taken. A new tiered demand management and subsidence mitigation program for the Chowchilla Subbasin was presented as informational, with more public input expected before adoption.
