Madera County GSA reviews measurement-methods RFP; growers press for cost, transferability and meter integration
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Summary
Staff reported seven proposals for a measurement-and-accounting RFP and a timeline toward a January 1, 2026 target contract date; growers urged cost containment, use of widely adopted data sources, flow-meter integration and vendor-agnostic data ownership.
MADERA, Calif. — Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency staff told the Delta Mendota Subbasin committee on Aug. 31 that seven proposals have been received in response to a measurement-methods and groundwater accounting platform RFP and that staff plans to return in September with a recommendation.
The presentation by Alita Allen, water resource specialist for the county GSA, said the RFP was issued May 15 and that seven written responses were received (two proposals for measurement methods and five for an accounting platform). Staff posted respondents’ presentations and answers on the county website July 21 and held public presentations July 1. Allen said about 47 growers representing roughly 35,000 acres returned grower questionnaires; responses were still arriving.
The growers’ representative, Noah Lopez of the Madera Ag Water Association, told the committee growers want the new system to be cost‑efficient, interoperable with flow meters, based on data sources already used and trusted in the San Joaquin Valley, and constructed so the GSA owns data to allow vendor changes in the future. Lopez said the GSA should preserve an appeals process that lets growers substitute flow‑meter data for satellite evapotranspiration (ET) estimates at year‑end.
Allen summarized reference checks staff conducted and said general feedback on the accounting platforms was positive, with staff finding vendors responsive and familiar with agriculture. She cautioned the service is not “plug and play,” that some features requested by growers may increase cost as platforms are refined, and that QA/QC, data security and mobile access remain important evaluation points.
Allen reviewed specific next steps and timing: a GSA committee presentation and staff recommendation in September, contract negotiations in October, a GSA committee recommendation and board consideration in November, and a target contract start date of Jan. 1, 2026.
Growers asked that the chosen accounting platform be able, ultimately, to record recharge credits and allocations and to facilitate transfers of allocation between growers consistent with GSA rules. Lopez urged use of data sources widely adopted by other GSAs (he cited Land IQ as an example of a commonly used ET product) and recommended continued ability to integrate and appeal using flow‑meter data.
No formal action was taken on the item; it was presented as informational. Staff said it will return with a recommendation in September.
