Top 3 Key Takeaways
Pumping Credit System Moving to "Bucket" Approach: The agency is shifting away from time-based credit expiration (3, 5, 10, or 15 years) to a volume-based "bucket" system where each entity can accumulate up to 5 times their sustainable yield pumping allocation in credits. This provides maximum flexibility for drought management while preventing excessive credit accumulation that could destabilize the basin.
Credits Only Earned Through Actual Water Conservation Efforts: Pumping credits can only be generated by pumping below your allocation while importing supplemental water or reducing usage - not simply by being allocated water you don't use. This ensures credits represent real water savings rather than "paper water" that doesn't exist in the basin.
Historical Data Shows Natural Management Worked: Analysis of 50+ years of pumping data revealed that without regulations, the basin naturally maintained sustainability through wet and dry cycles, with pumping varying up to 10 times the sustainable yield during droughts while returning to equilibrium. This historical pattern is being used to justify the flexible credit system.
Additional Key Takeaways
Pumping credits will be tracked on a simple annual basis comparing actual pumping to allocated amounts, with no complex first-in-first-out accounting
Credits can only be transferred within the same management area where they were earned, not across different zones in the basin
The order of water use during exceedances will be: first use pumping credits, then supplemental water, then track "replenishment obligations" for over-pumping
Management Action #1 remains in effect - if water levels drop below thresholds in 50% of monitoring points for two consecutive years, allocations decrease by 25%
Annual model updates will validate that credit accumulation matches actual basin storage increases to prevent "phantom" credits
South Mesa and other areas currently not pumping due to lack of development will be limited in credit accumulation under the bucket approach
The sustainable yield allocations may be re-evaluated every 5-10 years based on actual basin performance versus model predictions
A formal transfer process and documentation will be developed for entities wanting to trade pumping credits
Advisory Committee Recommendation
The advisory committee will recommend the board approve the bucket-based credit system with volume caps and develop formal transfer procedures at the next board meeting.
Engagement Information
Growers can submit comments and questions through the agency website at www.yucaipasgma.org or contact staff directly. The next workshop is scheduled for September 24, 2025, followed by the board meeting on October 22, 2025 at 10:30 am at the City of Yucaipa offices.
