Authority updates grants and projects; DWR reimbursements, Navy COSO funds, and annual report timeline discussed
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Summary
Staff reported recent DWR and other grant payments, ongoing coordination on environmental review and power design for pump stations, and plans to submit a Navy COSO invoice and drill a second well in Rose Valley; the annual DWR well-level report is expected in early April.
At its meeting, the Groundwater Authority heard several staff updates on grants, project coordination and reporting timelines.
The Water Resources Manager said the authority recently received a $416,000 payment under one grant and has a reimbursement request of about $33,000 under review. Under the DWR Urban Community Drought Relief program the authority reported a $173,000 payment and an additional $15,000 request awaiting review. Staff highlighted three coordination areas for the imported-water project: environmental reviews with the Bureau of Land Management, Southern California Edison’s work on power to three pump stations, and consultant coordination with Blue Mountain to streamline project completion.
Public commenter Renee Westelusk asked about the annual DWR report that uses well-level data; staff said the report is in progress and is expected in early April, and that a draft will be shared with the board and public before submission. On Navy funding for COSO projects, staff said an invoice for roughly half of approximately $300,000 will be submitted this week and that staff plans to drill a second well in the Rose Valley area to use remaining funds.
The general manager reported outreach plans including an authority booth at the Feb. 26 Economic Outlook Conference and noted a website migration underway. Board members asked for clarification on Navy fund availability and future project submittals; staff said responses from the Navy on other proposed projects have been limited in recent years.