Staff projected a ~1.0 AF/acre allocation and plans to announce it in late April. The board denied 5 of 6 unused-allocation charge waiver requests, signaling stricter enforcement going forward. The board approved an MA-2 penalty waiver agreement for a grower tied to 53 acres of orchard removal and a 110 AF credit transfer to reach a zero cumulative balance by end of 2027.
Board approved sending penalty invoices to three MA-2 landowners who exceeded the 3 AF/acre ET limit, at $500 per AF of overage. Staff discussed demand-reduction settlements, but the vote only approved invoices. Staff said ET limits will tighten from 3 toward 2 AF/acre over ~15 years. Friant is at 100% Class 1 but may drop to the 90–100% range after runoff risk.
Board extended the water return deadline from September 15 to November 1 and revised water budget policies so purchased supplemental water is now used last, while clarifying precipitation credits cannot be transferred or carried over. Looking ahead, staff discussed possibly starting with a low initial allocation (~0.5–0.6 feet per acre) despite reasonable reservoir levels to avoid last year's allocation volatility.
The Board approved the 2026 budget with no increases to water rates or assessments, maintaining strong reserves while planning for future canal repair costs. The District is aggressively recharging available Class 2 water, including renting pumps at Dresser, to move water before potential allocation changes. Gold mussels in nearby Friant facilities prompted intensified monitoring and review of copper treatment options in coordination with other agencies.
The district is offering free nitrogen and irrigation management consulting to growers in one township through a $1 million USDA grant program. Water quality guidelines successfully protected growers in their second year, with chloride thresholds actively managed and real-time EC monitoring. Golden mussels discovered in the canal system pose an imminent threat to pipeline infrastructure, requiring urgent treatment protocols and regional coordination.
