Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Groundwater Recharge topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tehama County agencies report progress on DWR-funded recharge pilot projects
Summary
At a recent Tehama County Groundwater Commission meeting (date not specified), staff and partner agencies updated commissioners on four DWR-funded pilot recharge projects in the Red Bluff subbasin that have signed contracts and are partly under construction; the grant funding window for some work must be spent by March 31, 2026.
At a recent meeting of the Tehama County Groundwater Commission (date not specified), staff and partner agencies gave a detailed update on several Department of Water Resources (DWR)–funded groundwater recharge pilot projects and related monitoring upgrades.
Kevin of the local Resource Conservation District presented the pilot program’s scope, saying, "This is a pilot program through DWR, and it's focusing on system upgrades, retrofits, monitoring equipment, automation technology." He described four approved projects in the Red Bluff subbasin that target irrigation efficiency through pump automation, flow meters, soil-moisture stations and drip-line replacement. Three sites are under construction (two reported about 40–50% complete) and a fourth contract was signed last week and is expected to start in coming weeks.
Justin Jensen, deputy director, framed the work as part of a broader fee- and programmatic strategy: the projects aim to produce measurable reductions in groundwater pumping and to supply data that can support future investments. "Everything you save is a direct reduction in pumping," Jensen said, noting the agency hopes to pair the construction work with case studies to quantify water savings.
Staff and consultants described complementary subbasin efforts. For Los Molinos, a flood-safety plan and ASR (aquifer storage and recovery) design work are nearing finalization; for Corning, staff identified 16 surface-water connection projects that can be reimbursed under current grant rules and noted work to connect landowners to irrigation districts to facilitate in-lieu recharge.
Consultant Jacques Dubre and staff emphasized timing limits on some funds. Jacques said the Red Bluff construction allocation must be spent by March 31, 2026, and staff urged commissioners to continue moving construction and equipment purchases forward so reimbursement timelines and permitting deadlines do not prevent work from being completed.
Commissioners asked that slide decks, project photos and deliverables be posted with the board packet and on the district website so members and the public can review technical details and monitor progress. Staff agreed to circulate the presentation and to post updated deliverables online.
The commission did not take formal policy action on the projects at the meeting; staff said the pilot work and monitoring data will be used to inform future fee recommendations and possible program expansions.
