Committee backs amendment with Davidson Engineering to advance grant‑funded recharge projects; total amendment fee corrected to $975,270.50

MADERA, Calif. — The Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s Delta Mendota Subbasin committee on Aug. 31 recommended the GSA board approve an amendment to contract MCC No. 11686‑F‑24 with Davidson Engineering Inc. to continue engineering work on four grant‑funded groundwater recharge projects.

Gupta Perez, water resource specialist, told the committee the amendment contains four proposals covering project design, permitting and construction support. The proposals and stated not‑to‑exceed fees are: Proposal 1 (advance Madera Recharge Project 1 to 100% design and environmental permitting) — $85,325.50 (Prop 68 reimbursed); Proposal 2 (bidding, preconstruction and construction management for Chowchilla Recharge Project 1) — $383,528 (Prop 68 reimbursed); Proposal 3 (advance Chowchilla Recharge Project 2 to 100% design and permitting) — $180,000 (Prop 68 reimbursed); and Proposal 4 (advance an additional diversion system to 60% design) — $326,417 (Prop 68 reimbursed). The correct total for the four proposals is $975,270.50; staff noted an earlier spoken total in the meeting contained a transcription error that misplaced commas.

Perez described site-specific capacities and partners: Madera Recharge Project 1 (in partnership with Root Creek Water District) includes rehabilitating one existing turnout, constructing three new turnouts and a 40‑acre dedicated recharge basin; full buildout recharge capacity was reported at about 12,600 acre‑feet per year when water is available. Chowchilla Recharge Project 1 would divert up to 80 cubic feet per second (about 160 acre‑feet per day) and convey flood flows to roughly 1,700 acres of farmland and two landowner‑constructed recharge basins, with a full‑build recharge capacity of about 8,000 acre‑feet per year. Chowchilla Recharge Project 2 includes a diversion point up to 20 cfs (about 40 acre‑feet per day), a fish screen and 24‑inch magnetic flow meter, conveyance to a 5‑acre landowner recharge basin and about 100 acres of floodMAR, with design capture of approximately 2,000 to 6,000 acre‑feet per year when water is available.

Perez said the contract term would run through June 30, 2027, and that all costs are reimbursed by Proposition 68 grant funds. Perez also reviewed permitting requirements and told the committee many permits are required for in‑stream work and conveyance infrastructure.

Director McCullough asked for a clearer timeline to completion and whether funding gaps remained. Perez said engineering and construction costs have risen but staff expects to work within existing grants and will return with schedule updates; she cautioned that many permitting timelines depend on other agencies and are therefore subject to delay. During public comment Mark Peters asked for a clear estimate of total recharge benefits; staff later responded with an aggregate figure of about 28,000 acre‑feet when asked during the meeting.

A motion to recommend the amended contract with Davidson Engineering Inc. passed on a 2–0 vote (Directors McCauley and Gonzales voted yes). Staff recommended the board approve the amendment so the projects can continue toward construction.