The board set the 2026 irrigation water price at $150/AF (vs. ~$190/AF break-even), implying ~$2.4M in reserve support. Staff planned to begin charging May 14 due to a projected Millerton spill; delivery timing varies by location. The board approved Land IQ ET monitoring (~$67,907/yr) and discussed using it initially for measurement (no billing yet discussed).
Groundwater storage change was reported as ~62,800 acre-feet lost in WY2025. The board discussed a pilot/education approach using satellite ET to estimate parcel-level groundwater use and contacting Merced County's Lacey to present on their pilot before any fees. Subsidence monitoring is shifting to InSAR after federal funding ended; monitoring points discussed were largely in yellow (0.2–0.6 feet of subsidence), with some sites around ~0.24–0.36.
Board discussed a resolution committing to a Groundwater Demand Management program to avoid probationary status. Staff previewed three illustrative penalty scenarios using 2023 data and a $200/AF example (~$6M); no action was taken, with Davids Engineering expected to present more detail next meeting. Allocation is 100%, but deliveries may start earlier (May) due to carryover evacuation needs.
The district conducted significant winter recharge operations, bringing in roughly 16,000 acre-feet of Class 2 water before releases stopped, and discussed a possible 40% Class 1 allocation based on early snow data. Local landowners signaled plans to present an alternative bypass-based recharge concept that they believe could be more cost-effective than permanent recharge basins.
Board discussed an offer from Arvin Edison for Class 2 water and directed staff to prioritize using the available 16,000 acre‑feet for in‑district recharge to address overdraft concerns, rather than selling it now. Multiple recharge ponds are nearing completion to handle incoming water. The Board also approved the 2025 GSP Annual Report, with costs expected to be under the $96,000 budget.
