Agencies reported 500+ recharge projects in GSPs could yield 1.5 million AF/year. The State Water Board said expired executive orders ended CEQA suspension for temporary permits and that Water Code 1242.1 flood diversions may be difficult for many this winter without a qualifying local plan. Tulare and Madera described recharge-credit and allocation approaches that drove strong grower participation in 2023.
DWR presented its Vision for the San Joaquin Valley, warning the region is on an unsustainable path due to overdraft, subsidence, and climate change. Speakers described SGMA allocations and unpaid assessments being sent to county tax rolls (e.g., Turlock East, Tri-County Water Authority, Greater Kaweah, Eastern Tule). SWP reimbursable costs rose 63% since 2014; FIRO paired with recharge shows promise but faces permitting and infrastructure hurdles.
The Commission approved a $268.9M supplemental funding determination for Sites, raising the conditional ceiling to $1.36B for inflation and a new emergency drought response benefit (no funds disbursed). Sites said draft water-right conditions could reduce performance ~12–15% (project-specific) or ~30–50% if broader Bay-Delta plan conditions apply; a final order could come in September. Draft public benefit contracts were presented; comments due July 6, 2026.
The SWP allocation was raised to 45% for Water Year 2026, while groundwater storage declined by ~1.5 million acre-feet in WY2025. DWR is implementing its Subsidence BMP through local GSA meetings focused on avoiding irreversible subsidence. WSIP updates covered Sites Reservoir and Chino Basin progress; a draft water-rights decision may limit Sites diversions and affect project economics, with Sites final award hearing scheduled in the future.
The Commission approved $52.1M in supplemental inflation-adjusted funding for the Harvest Water recycled water program, on track for full o peration by mid-2027. Economists said they used the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Trends index here and would recommend the same approach for other WSIP projects for future Commission consideration. Sites draft water right comments are due May 22; a Sites supplemental funding request may be considered as early as June.
