Board approves special $7.25/acre-foot assessment for basin optimization projects

The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency board on Sept. 24 approved a special basin assessment to fund projects in the recently adopted Basin Optimization Plan, levying $7.25 per acre-foot as a separate line item on basin-assessment invoices.

Staff told the board the Watermaster budget adopted in July covered administrative and technical operations but did not include funding for basin-optimization projects. The Basin Optimization Plan adopted June 25 included a prioritized set of projects and a five-year cost estimate; staff said the first-year budget for project implementation was estimated at approximately $2.90 per acre-foot for initial policy and project startup work and that PAC recommended moving ahead with a special assessment at $7.25 per acre-foot to finance early implementation steps.

To address equity concerns for water-right holders in areas served by United Water Conservation District (and the possible duplication of fees paid to United), staff proposed separating invoicing and collection of Watermaster administrative/technical assessments from project (replenishment) assessments. The board approved that approach and authorized the special project-based assessment that will be invoiced separately so water-right holders can see the administrative assessment and the project assessment as distinct line items; staff said the combined invoice will show a total per acre-foot and explained the projected figure water-right holders can expect to see on bills.

Staff said the special assessment will be included as a separate line on the next basin-assessment invoices scheduled to go out Oct. 1 subject to the board vote; the board adopted the resolution as presented. Members discussed the timing and communications to avoid repeatedly returning to the board for mid-year funding adjustments and asked the finance committee to consider procedural changes to reduce the need for piecemeal adjustments.

Staff reported the combined total that water-right holders may see on bills (administrative plus project assessment) is about $67.25 per acre-foot on an annual basis (approximately $16.82 per quarter), with $7.25 of that amount designated specifically for Basin Optimization Plan projects. The board voted to adopt the resolution authorizing the assessment and to direct staff to invoice as a separate line item.