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Groundwater‑Sustainability Agency approves $100,700 transfer, carryover allocation policy and revised domestic‑well mitigation rules
Summary
Acting as GSA directors, the board approved a $100,700 transfer to fund domestic well mitigation, adopted a policy for allocating carryover credits and penalties during farm‑unit reorganizations, and approved a revised domestic well mitigation policy for the Delta Mendota sub‑basin.
In its role as directors of the Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) on Oct. 14, the board approved several groundwater management items: a transfer of appropriations of $100,700 for GSA fee revenue to reimbursements for the fiscal year 2025–26; a policy to allocate carryover credits and penalties during farm‑unit reorganizations; and a revised domestic well mitigation policy for the Delta Mendota Sub‑basin (a basin in which the county is one of 23 GSAs and where the county has no domestic wells).
Stephanie Nagneson, director of Water and Natural Resources and GSA manager, said the $100,700 transfer (Transfer of Appropriations No. 25‑021) repurposes penalty revenues from the Chowchilla Sub‑basin into an account to pay Chowchilla Water District for the county GSA’s share of domestic well mitigation costs. The transfer was approved by a 4–0 vote (Director McCauley absent for that vote), Nagneson said.
On carryover credits and penalties, Nagneson summarized a policy the GSA committee had reviewed multiple times. The policy allows growers to specify allocations of carryover (unused allocation) and penalty credits via lease agreements, sales agreements or other grower‑provided contracts; if no agreement is provided the policy defaults to an already‑practiced volumetric apportionment method by APN. Lehi Tapia presented committee details during earlier meetings, Nagneson said. The board adopted the carryover allocation policy by roll call vote.
On domestic well mitigation for the Delta Mendota sub‑basin, Nagneson said the state board negotiated additional requirements into the model policy. The revisions cover use of the policy by small systems (under 14 connections), faster provision of tanked or emergency water, and additional contaminants to monitor or address if replacement water is not available from the Valley Water Collaborative. Nagneson noted Madera County has no domestic wells in the Delta Mendota sub‑basin but the county is required to adopt the policy as one of the basin GSAs. The board adopted the revised policy by roll call vote.
Supervisors and GSA directors thanked staff for ongoing work and emphasized continued public outreach to reduce misinformation about carryover rules. Nagneson said current policy allows indefinite carryover of unused water credits, though the GSA has discussed options in committee.
Votes: Transfer of appropriations approved 4–0; carryover allocation policy and Delta Mendota domestic well mitigation resolution each approved by roll call (votes recorded in the meeting transcript).
