The board adopted Resolutions 2026-04 and 2026-05 (well policy and groundwater obstruction allocation policy) and approved filing a CEQA Notice of Exemption for each. Staff reviewed state fees, including a new $100 de minimis domestic well fee for some pumpers, and noted that under probation the state fee could be $35/AF. Counsel said an injunction blocks probation enforcement against Southwest Kings and Tri-County; back fees could be disputed if exclusion is later denied.
The board approved raising the per-acre groundwater assessment from $1.50 to $2.00 for 2027, citing anticipated consulting costs tied to the updated sustainability plan. Staff reported the State Board discussed a possible pumping moratorium along the Friant-Kern Canal as early as April of next year, framed as a starting offer tied to subsidence concerns. The board formally set aside existing allocation and new-well policies following litigation, with revised drafts expected in two weeks.
The board stayed implementation of the groundwater allocation policy pending revisions, including registration/reporting for non-agricultural use and no year-to-year carryover of unused water. The board approved $36,086.39 (18.398%) as its share of a $196,000 sub-basin model update to refine native yield by GSA and aquifer. Sub-basin GSAs are also progressing toward a single unified Groundwater Sustainability Plan targeting completion in Q1 2027.
