The board approved agreements to facilitate a $25 million Reclamation award to Westlands Water District for groundwater banking and aquifer storage and recovery wells. Staff reported the Delta-Mendota Canal subsidence correction project is about 16% complete, with liner raises expected within roughly 45 days. New DWR Director Tom Gibson visited, emphasizing open collaboration and improved transparency on shared CVP-SWP facilities and costs.
No allocation update is expected in July despite above-average storage; Jones pumping may be limited to one unit by high tides, and directors asked for a formal advocacy update next month. DMC subsidence correction construction is underway and on schedule, while golden mussels spread north with new detections and growing operational costs expected to become recurring budget items.
A $37.5M Kiewit CM/GC agreement was approved for DMC Subsidence Task 1 (liner raise MP 3.5–7.2), plus up to $4,538,061 for CDM Smith construction support. Reclamation reported Aging Infrastructure awards of $53M (O'Neill transformers), $11M (O'Neill unit rehab), and $112M (DMC subsidence). Jones Pumping Plant is running at 2,900 CFS on three units, with transfer programs and July operations looking favorable.
Water ops looked strong: Oroville near capacity (~3.38 MAF) and Folsom nearly full (~958 TAF), with Jones potentially increasing from 4 to 5 units if available. Golden mussels are in a spawning boom; growers were asked to report sightings and also report if pipes are clear. April hydrology significantly improved conditions: precipitation at 180% of normal.
Federal funding announcements of ~$750M One Big Beautiful Bill Act plus ~$750M aging infrastructure were described as imminent; ~$650M IRA drought funds face a Sept. 30 obligation deadline. Golden mussels are colonizing facilities; response is mitigation-focused and vulnerability assessment final report is pending. Ops: federal San Luis just under 700,000 AF, exports ~4,200 cfs; Vernalis inflows declining; April–May restrictions remain a concern.
