A pending one-year grant extension could move priority project deadlines to December 2027; staff aim to finish the paperwork by year-end. Four projects totaling about $6.7 million remain in contracting after board and conditional state approval. Eligible existing grantees with a completed MLRP plan could seek up to an additional $9 million under anticipated Round 3 terms; Westlands is finalizing its plan. Growers and community members were urged to submit project concepts.
Westlands approved about 8,000 acre-feet of cushion-related and system gain water for existing unfulfilled requests, with seven days to decline. Up to about 28,300 acre-feet of drought pool water remains contingent on arrangements with Reclamation. The board also approved mostly lower water rates retroactive to March 1, 2026. Staff outlined wet-weather recharge options and a major transmission constraint for the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan.
The board advanced the Prop 218 special benefit assessment update, approving the engineers report subject to revising the golden mussel cost component, and set a Dec. 15, 2026 public hearing with Oct. 7 and Oct. 21 workshops. Staff reported copper treatment on laterals 4 Left and 7R reached 100% mortality at monitoring sites at about $130,000 and will return next month with a multi-year treatment plan given the districts 64 laterals.
Four priority MLRP projects previously approved by the Westlands Board are moving into contracting. Staff reported that DOC Prop 4 Round 3 guidelines may come out in one to two months and encouraged continued concept form and application intake. Community feedback from the August 4 meeting generally aligned with the five draft regional goals; specific suggestions will be incorporated into plan strategies and co-benefit sections rather than altering goal language.
The CVP water allocation increased to 28%, with staff working to secure an additional 2% increase supported by current storage levels. The board authorized execution of the $25 million non-reimbursable IRA FLOWS activity agreement for groundwater recharge and ASR infrastructure, requiring no local match. Staff reported Fall X2 will not be implemented this year; combined regulatory benefits were estimated at at least 265,000 acre-feet.
