LAFCO update: consolidated water district, Atwell Island, St. John’s and Ducor annexations highlighted

Ben Giuliani of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) briefed the Tulare County Water Commission on recent LAFCO actions and pending matters affecting several local water districts, including a conditionally approved consolidated water district now scheduled for a May election.

The update focused on four items: a consolidated district formation proposed by the People’s Consolidated Ditch Company; an annexation of property into Atwell Island Water District that faces reconsideration requests; a detachment/annexation routing affecting Saint John’s Water District and parts of Visalia; and recent annexation adjustments to the Ducor Water District.

The consolidated formation was described as a conditional approval by LAFCO that must be decided by property owner election on May 6. Giuliani said, “being a water district, it's a landowner district. So you could think of it as $1, 1 vote rather than 1 registered voter per 1 vote,” explaining the landowner-vote structure for this type of district and that the formation is intended to give ditch companies and landowners more options for water storage and groundwater recharge projects.

Giuliani described the Atwell Island annexation as notable because much of the district contains federal BLM land and limited private property, and he said the annexation would allow private landowners in adjacent white areas to organize and pursue water projects under SGMA planning. LAFCO approved the Atwell Island annexation in January, but Giuliani said there have been several reconsideration requests; he said those requests are scheduled to be heard at LAFCO’s April meeting.

Commission members and other attendees asked whether the annexation would affect residents of Allensworth and Alpaugh. Giuliani said outreach meetings have been held with Allensworth community members and that proponents of the annexation planned additional meetings to “explain, answer questions” and that Atwell Island staff would attend the public hearing to further explain intentions.

On Saint John’s Water District, Giuliani said LAFCO approved detaching developed areas within the City of Visalia (areas that legally cannot receive agricultural water) and annexing separate, more agricultural areas to the north. He explained this type of boundary change is often pursued so agricultural land remains inside districts that might later propose Prop 218 elections for water projects, while urbanized areas are detached because the district’s water primarily benefits farmers.

Giuliani said Ducor’s recent LAFCO actions were similar in intent: adjoining property owners in white areas sought annexation so they could participate in water project planning and SGMA governance. He noted that in at least one recent case an adjacent property owner submitted a timely letter requesting inclusion and LAFCO adjusted the annexation boundary accordingly.

Commissioners raised a question about contiguity. Giuliani said irrigation and water districts are not required to have contiguous boundaries and that noncontiguous “islands” are not uncommon.

Why it matters: these LAFCO boundary changes and annexations alter which landowners and local governments participate in groundwater sustainability planning, who can vote in future district elections, and who can sponsor or benefit from future water storage and recharge projects.

Giuliani’s presentation closed after questions and a discussion of potential further annexation interest from neighboring property owners. LAFCO’s April meeting and the May 6 election were identified as the next steps for items with pending public hearings or ballots.