RP2026 self-directed fallowing and cover-crop reports are due by the end of November; surface-water reports are due December 31. A draft five-year GSP review puts groundwater levels above 2027 milestones and begins a 30-day public comment period. The board authorized a monitoring-well easement, gauging agreements subject to legal review, and pursuit of a Water Resources Analyst hire. Counsel clarified restrictions on board members holding MLRP contracts.
The board authorized the General Manager to sign five MLRP project agreements, subject to final legal review. The roughly $4.7 million, 11-project pipeline includes Tri-State, which was not approved. The Governor signed a Round 2 grant extension through June 2028. About 80 accounts that reported cover cropping or fallowing in 2025 have not reported for 2026; staff urged prompt reporting to support upcoming true-up invoices.
Staff reported that the MLRP grant was extended one year by the legislature and that up to five full-scale projects may come before the board in September. Growers were reminded to complete self-reporting in the groundwater accounting platform before the end-of-September deadline. Staff also reported coordination between the Erie pipeline project and MLRP efforts to enable data collection and multi-benefit planning on Sand Creek and Mustang Creek.
The board approved Resolution 2026-05 adopting a delinquency policy and miscellaneous fee schedule with a 10% penalty, 1% monthly interest, and recovery of collection costs for late groundwater fees, with remedies that may include payment plans and tax-roll placement. Staff reported about $1.7 million in delinquent invoices added to county tax rolls. The board also adopted rules revisions including 3-year pump efficiency testing and clarified fallowing and recharge documentation expectations.
Staff outlined a timeline for the Periodic Evaluation and updated GSP chapters, with public review targeted for fall 2026 and a DWR submission deadline of January 28, 2027. EKI described ISW data gaps and a plan to improve data and modeling; ISW SMC refinement was discussed as a target for the next five-year update (noted as 2032), not a final decision. Prop 4 grants are being explored; scope and budget will return at a future meeting.
