The board approved submitting an IBank certification seeking $40 million; final loan terms and approval remain ahead. Staff will develop possible delivery-based water rebates for the November budget. Proposed budgets will also include a $50-per-acre-foot on-farm recharge program for board consideration, intended for periods when district recharge capacity is full and additional water is available.
Board took no vote/action on the $1.3M Phase 2 mussel treatment while reviewing liability/insurance and alternatives; an August special meeting was discussed. Water supply is 100% Class 1, 0% Class 2, with earlier season taper expected. Board adopted Subsidence Exceedance Policy v2.0.
Water supply remains strong at a 100% Class 1 allocation, with ~11,000 AF of additional Tier 2 restoration flows expected. Kern Subbasin partners are revising the subsidence action plan to align with DWR BMPs, including critical head analysis, with an appendix amendment expected for board action next month. Spring sampling found exceedances at three wells; some notices sent, others pending investigations.
Phase one golden mussel treatment achieved 90%+ kill; a phase two September 2026 treatment is recommended at $1.7–$2M, with funding to be considered after July. Water supply remains at 100% allocation; snowpack is nearly zero. Claims approved totaled about $8.1M, driven by water purchases and capital work; supplemental purchases are typical in the long-term budget.
A copper-based treatment achieved near-complete golden mussel eradication at an initial cost of ~$2.75M, with a maintenance program costing about $1.79M annually (product estimate) under review. Staff reported no water pro-rate is needed this year even under two consecutive dry-year scenarios, with the direct recharge reserve bank at ~325,000 AF (projected ~260,000 after this year). Friant Class 1 allocation may drop from 100% to ~90–95% following early runoff and below-average snowpack.
