Stay on top of SGMA

CVP allocation is reported at 25%; staff said Shasta inflows are tracking above the 90% forecast and Westlands is advocating for an increase. The board approved pre-allocating 15,000 AF of supplemental water to offset peak-season pumping and approved new land stewardship rules requiring proper maintenance and district inspection access, with non-compliance risking restricted water allocations including groundwater.

Water delivery season is winding down, with canal shutdowns beginning late July through early August. No signs of golden mussels were observed on monitoring plates during a July 13 field review with Dudek, and staff is considering budget items for preventative chemical treatment systems. The audit for the year ended 12/31/2025 received a clean opinion, with total net position up ~$3.3 million (about $1.1 million higher than the prior year); the board formally accepted the report.

June deliveries tracked close to projections at just under 89,000 AF; July is expected to peak near 100,000 AF. A spike in canal side gate vandalism prompted added patrols and gate hardware fixes, with no further incidents reported since. Rate comparisons showed TID's irrigation and retail electric rates at the bottom across the board (with one exception) and also lowest statewide; a rate increase is scheduled next year.

Staff received updates on three programs: a multi-decade stream maintenance program covering Valley Water's stream facilities countywide (below 1,000 ft) under a new 10-year permit cycle, a direct potable reuse project targeting 24,000 acre-feet annually by 2035 at an estimated $2.45B, and two watershed master plans covering ~175 sq mi expected to finalize in spring 2027.

The board approved up to $28.5M in COP financing for a new administrative campus and booster stations, and awarded a $32.922M construction contract to Robert Clapper Construction. Staff also announced a July 23 public workshop on the M2 groundwater protection project.