Dr. Farai Kaseke, agency staff, summarized the LPV Policy Advisory Committee's recommendation report to purchase imported water from Calleguas Municipal Water District to provide in-lieu deliveries that reduce local pumping and support basin levels.

Kaseke said the basin optimization plan adopted in June identified nine projects and recommended five for implementation; the Calleguas in-lieu program was Project No. 2 and uses existing infrastructure and prior experience with similar programs between about 1994 and 2016.

Staff generally agreed with the PAC recommendation but asked for greater clarity on how Calleguas would apply capacity charges and readiness-to-serve (RTS) charges, because the draft recommendation did not provide complete cost figures for high- and low-demand periods. Kaseke also noted a discrepancy of roughly 1,200 acre-feet between the agency's estimate and the Calleguas manual estimate for a particular allocation accounting item, something staff said can be resolved in coordination with partners.

Board members pressed staff for more information on whether the intended in-lieu recipients are already Calleguas customers and on how the program would treat a subset of pumpers within United Water Conservation District who already pay replenishment fees. One director suggested asking United if it would contribute replenishment funds it has already collected for those pumpers to reduce the assessment burden on other basin users.

Kaseke said the program as written contemplates deliveries to a small set of wells (he said six wells are the primary focus) owned by United Water Conservation District or a zone mutual water company; staff will clarify the exact participants and whether they are existing Calleguas customers.

After public comment there was a motion to receive and file the presentation and to approve the Watermaster response report to PAC; the board approved the motion without recorded opposition.

Staff will work with PAC, Calleguas and affected purveyors to resolve open questions on charges, seasonality and assessment treatment and return with any recommended policy or assessment language for future board action.