TOP 3 MAJOR TAKEAWAYS:
State Water Board Exclusion Request Timeline Extended - The district's request to be excluded from state oversight and fees has been delayed until potentially March or April 2026, despite originally hoping for resolution this fall. Staff will push for expedited review when meeting with State Board members in Sacramento, arguing that Pixley has been cooperating with state staff all year and submitted nothing new that hasn't already been reviewed.
Well Registration Compliance Still Low at 52% - Only 52% of landowners have registered their wells, with 500 landowners still in penalty status for not registering and lacking transitional water access. The district will send non-compliance notices giving these landowners 30 days to register or face fees, and this low compliance rate limits the district's ability to implement targeted management instead of blanket restrictions.
New Groundwater Banking Investigation Approved - The board approved spending $50,000 to participate in a feasibility study with Lower Tule, Mid Kaweah, and Greater Kaweah districts to investigate bringing State Water Project water into the area for banking, which could provide significant "leave behind" water benefits for local growers.
OTHER KEY TAKEAWAYS:
ET GSA's subsidence management zones around Friant-Kern Canal may expand from 2 miles to 3 miles on each side, potentially affecting more Pixley lands with stricter pumping restrictions.
July water deliveries totaled 518 acre-feet with 75% delivery efficiency, slightly higher sales than last year at 436 acre-feet average daily sales.
Cross Valley Canal water deliveries delayed again to late September/early October due to Delta pumping restrictions from salt intrusion issues.
New equipment trailer approved for $68,000 to replace 4-year-old obsolete equipment for pipe and utility transport.
Groundwater quality plan updates include setting minimum thresholds at Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) standards and establishing new monitoring triggers when 33% of representative sites show exceedances.
District finances show 96.5% of budget spent, primarily driven by higher water purchase costs, with budget adjustments expected next month.
BOARD APPROVALS:
How to Engage: Contact the Pixley Irrigation District at 357 E. Olive Avenue, Tipton, CA 93272 for questions or comments. The next regular board meeting is September 11, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
