Multi-Benefit Land Repurposing Program Project 9 Approved: The Board approved submitting Project 9 to the Department of Conservation for funding consideration. This project involves a $1 million conservation easement on 77 acres of irrigated agricultural land that will permanently retire groundwater allocations, with the landowner also committing to retire water rights on adjacent parcels totaling approximately 316 acres. The project is part of a larger $10.8 million floodplain and wetlands restoration effort near the Merced Wildlife Refuge.
Groundwater Accounting Platform Contract Extended: The Board approved a $290,000 five-year contract with Environmental Science Associates to continue the Groundwater Accounting Platform that growers use to track their water usage and allocations. The contract includes $48,000 annual subscription fees starting January 2026 and $50,000 for customizations including well registration workflows, surface water self-reporting capabilities, and fallowed land reporting to support the 2026 allocation implementation.
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