Watermaster reports gaps in extraction reporting; PAC recommends exempting some United Water service area users from project assessments

Watermaster staff told the board that annual allocations accounting and overuse assessments are limited by incomplete reporting from some water‑right holders.

Dr. Farrugia said about 77% of reporting was fully usable for accounting, 11.4% of users were in a state of overuse after curing, and roughly 23.6% of stakeholders had reporting or data quality issues that precluded complete calculations. Staff said they had moved extraction and use reporting in‑house to Watermaster and that ongoing follow up with reporting parties continues.

On a related budget question, staff presented a PAC recommendation that water‑right holders inside the United Water Conservation District service area be exempted from certain Watermaster project‑based assessments as a matter of equity, because those users already pay replenishment fees to United. Board discussion focused on the revenue impacts and how to handle funds already collected (retroactivity/refunds). Some directors said a partial credit or a time‑limited exemption (e.g., two years) could be appropriate while numbers are refined; staff was directed to model draft budget scenarios showing the effect of the exemptions so PAC and the board could review concrete figures.

Members of the public representing water companies and growers described the burden of rising replenishment charges and urged clarity so their shareholders are not double‑charged. Board members asked staff to return with budget runs that show the fiscal effect of PAC’s recommendation and to coordinate with PAC, United, and fiscal committees before final decisions.