Madera-area GSAs adopt groundwater demand-management measures and refine dry-well mitigation program
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Summary
The board (as GSA directors) adopted a groundwater demand-management and subsidence mitigation program designed to meet state requirements, and approved refinements to the dry-well/domestic well mitigation program (including allowing plumbing and electrical costs under a $35,000 cap and outreach measures); the GSA also moved $122,565 for reimbursements.
County staff and consulting engineer John Davids briefed the board on a groundwater demand-management program and subsidence mitigation measures developed for the Chowchilla Subbasin. The program was prepared to provide a backstop if projects and management actions do not halt overdraft or subsidence, staff said.
"If you fall above 1 foot of cumulative subsidence, that's the amount of cumulative subsidence that we have defined for the period of 2025 through 2030, you're in trouble," Davids said, describing the program's trigger thresholds and the geographically focused approach to implementation.
Davids and staff emphasized that mandatory measures would be considered only if conditions warrant, and they described potential responses ranging from adjusting transitional allocations to moving pumping between aquifers and measuring wells at concentrated animal-feeding operations.
The board adopted the Groundwater Demand Management Program by a 4-0 vote. Staff said the program had been provided to the Department of Water Resources as part of the April 1 annual report and that other GSAs in the subbasin had already taken action.
Separately, staff presented refinements to the Madera dry-well/domestic well mitigation program. Key modifications included clarifying eligible reasonable costs, adding plumbing and electrical costs (and trenching associated with those costs) under the existing $35,000 cap for eligible projects, and retaining a requirement for three quotes and geologist assessments to verify dry-well conditions. Staff described ongoing outreach (monthly postcards and a website) and early program metrics (inquiries, pending applications and well assessments).
The board approved the dry-well program refinements and a transfer of appropriations ($122,565) to refund reimbursements for the Chowchilla Subbasin domestic well mitigation program; public commenters and supervisors discussed data needs to better predict demand and opportunities to connect clusters of failing wells to water systems when cost-effective.
Staff said the domestic-well program is intended to be adaptive and that hydrology will ultimately determine longer-term needs. The GSA actions were approved unanimously by the directors present.
