The Lower Tule River ID GSA approved 2027 groundwater credits totaling 1.87 AF/acre, with no transitional allocation. Staff expects to present draft subsidence and recharge policies in December; the subsidence order would require 45 days’ notice before adoption. Staff discussed a possible January 2027 draft state canal-zone moratorium and later subbasin-wide pumping caps. The board retained its fallowing policy and approved its $6,250 share of an AgOptics pilot.
The commission reviewed a possible two-phase state interim plan and stalled efforts toward a unified canal-area alternative. Staff plans to bring a draft Policy 9 subsidence order in November; pumping-based accounting was discussed for October 2027. Members recommended keeping current fallowing rules for now, with a roughly one-year expectation, but the board has not acted. GEARS reports are due February 1, 2027. No groundwater allocation change was adopted.
Staff outlined pumping-based groundwater accounting for October 2027 and a possible January 2027 subsidence order; no 2027 allocation change was approved. Canal urgency-plan talks remained unresolved, with a state two-mile moratorium still only proposed. The board tabled the fallowing-policy change, approved the 2027 budget and authorized up to $500,000 in emergency channel work.
Staff said the State Water Board's interim plan could impose pumping moratoriums near the Friant-Kern Canal, with a draft expected in January and possible action in April; staff discussed aiming for late October or early November to present a local alternative to Friant. Staff reviewed a potential 2027 shift to pump-based accounting; no action was taken and specifics are expected in October. The fallowing precipitation-credit policy item was tabled for refinement.
Staff said the State Water Board is accelerating its interim plan timeline, with potential adoption in Jan–Feb 2027, including a possible pumping moratorium within about two miles of the Friant-Kern Canal. Staff discussed a potential shift from ET/consumption-based accounting to pumping-based tracking and warned growers that SWRCB fee invoices are arriving with a 30-day deadline.
