10-Year Out-of-District Water Sales Program: One More Year of Credit Forbearance: The Board approved continuing the out-of-district water sales program with a limited modification. Participants who haven't used their minimum purchased water (1.5 acre-feet per acre) will receive one additional year of forbearance to utilize unused monetary credits from 2025 in the 2026 season. This addresses concerns from growers who faced infrastructure and capacity constraints, particularly on the Paulsell Lateral. One landowner who didn't pay minimum charges will be removed from the program. The program delivered over 12,000 acre-feet in 2025 (up from 8,000 in 2024), generating nearly $2.6 million in revenue while helping improve groundwater conditions in the area.
SGMA Groundwater Management Plan and Well Mitigation Supported: The Board directed staff to vote in favor of adopting the Groundwater Use Management Program and Well Mitigation Plan at the January 28th Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers Groundwater Basin Association (STRGBA) GSA meeting. The management plan proposes a 25% groundwater reduction over five years for the Non-District East area starting January 2027, while OID constituents face no immediate restrictions. The well mitigation plan allocates $300,000 (shared equally among seven member agencies) to reimburse affected wells up to $40,000 per incident, with Self-Help Enterprises administering the program.
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