The board instructed staff to contact transient‑pool members to determine whether they would be interested in implementing dust‑control or land‑repurposing measures if funding were available, advancing a planning step for a program that dates to a 2020 resolution.

Bianca of Stetson Engineers reviewed the history: Resolution 5‑20 created the transient‑pool and a following program with three options for qualified pumpers (reject allotment and pay replenishment fee; accept allotment and mitigation fee; or accept and negotiate a sale). Staff said the program stalled because of a lack of funding and absence of an identifiable, shovel‑ready project to attach to state funding programs. Bianca said she and staff had reviewed possible funding sources including the California Department of Conservation’s Multi‑Benefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) but that no active funding rounds were available at present.

Board members and public speakers noted the program’s potential environmental and economic impacts if agricultural acres are permanently taken out of production. Public commenters urged partnering with UC Extension, NRCS, and the Department of Defense readiness programs where dust mitigation could align with base mission protection. Staff recommended surveying transient‑pool owners to see if there is interest in pursuing mitigation if funding can be found.

The motion to direct staff to contact transient‑pool members and pursue funding if interest exists passed unanimously. Staff said the dust‑control or land‑repurposing effort will appear in the 2026 work plan and that state funding opportunities may reappear in future budgets; absent an identified project, state funding eligibility is limited.

The discussion and motion are recorded between SEG 1404 and SEG 1941.