The board approved a $17.75 million canal operations budget, up about 27%, with approximately $3.4 million in non-labor golden mussel costs. Staff moved planned canal dewatering to late October amid concerns about possible winter flooding. The board also approved a $3.06 million general membership budget and a 2.9% cost-of-living adjustment for eligible employees.
The board approved the intended award of Phase 2A construction management services to Arcadis (NTE $9.26M) for the ~2.7-mile parallel canal project, with final award delegated to the CEO; bids are due Sept. 18 and OBBB funds cover Phase 2A costs. Friant Class 1 remains at 100%; staff are tracking a potentially record El Niño for winter impacts. A Bowman algae study starts Sept. 9 on copper treatment effectiveness.
SOD ag allocation could rise 1–3% above 25% within 24–48 hours, while Friant Division remains at 100% Class 1. Staff discussed forecasts suggesting a potentially record-strong El Niño heading into winter. The Board approved PFM Asset Management to manage ~$230M in project funds, projected to net $1.6–$1.7M after fees with a conservative strategy.
Golden mussels remain a long-term management issue; monthly veliger monitoring found a positive at milepost 134, and staff are planning dewatering-period treatment in November, with limited funding. Class 1 allocation remains at 100% and Millerton may run near minimum pool (~150 TAF). MRCCP Phase 2 ROW and the Porterville borrow-site LOI were on the agenda. An August groundbreaking is being planned.
Staff discussed a draft OBBB letter agreement ($195M to FWA with a $5M Reclamation holdback) supporting Friant-Kern Canal subsidence correction, including Phase 1 replacement pump stations and Phase 2A parallel canal work. Golden mussel settlement was confirmed; AAIS NPDES permit expected mid-September.
