The board unanimously adopted the final Engineer's Report for the Phase 2 Funding Mechanism, establishing a maximum annual charge of $15.11 per acre, and set the Prop 218 public hearing for June 15, 2026 at 6 PM. Written objections under AB 2257 must be received by June 1; written protests under Prop 218 must be submitted before the hearing. Effective precipitation for Water Year 2026 was set at 10 inches, directly reducing groundwater debits from landowner allocations.
Board released the Phase 2 Fee Engineer report proposing a max ~$15.11/acre annual charge (Prop 218 process ahead). Board approved four MLRP development projects to move into the contracting phase (contracts to return later). Board also reversed staff denial of Alternative Source Credits for Jones Farm after a missed Dec. 15 deadline.
The Board approved extending deadlines to February 28, 2026 for growers to delineate inactive parcels and register wells with flow meters, as only 351 parcels and 37 wells were registered by the original deadline. Usage statements were mailed to 800 growers detailing their 2025 water use, and the Board reversed staff's denial of alternative source credits for a grower who missed the December deadline.
The Groundwater Accounting Platform launched parcel delineation and well registration features, with a January 31st deadline for marking parcels inactive. A Phase Two fee structure is being developed, with an engineer's report to be released at the February 11th meeting and a Proposition 218 hearing anticipated around April 20th. Staff is processing 72 alternative source water credit forms totaling about 200,000 acre-feet.
Groundwater accounting platform launches January 1, 2026, with 50% of growers already registered and deadlines approaching: December 15th for alternative water source credits and January 31st for flow meter attestations and inactive parcel identification. Board discussed Land Repurposing Program, which saved 4,655 acre-feet of groundwater this year. $150,000 planning funding is available with applications due January 30th and free technical assistance available by January 9th.
