Water News & Meetings

Weekly Updates on Water Policy, Projects, and Community Meetings

Stay informed with the latest water-related developments, key policy updates, and crucial meeting schedules. Each week, we share important news from the San Joaquin River Association and highlight upcoming gatherings that impact our water future. From increased water supply allocations to local GSA board discussions, this page keeps everything organized by date for easy reference.

Meetings

We would like to inform you of the following meetings that are happening with reference to GSA’s (Groundwater Sustainability Agency).  
Please get involved.  This is our livelihood! 

November 18, 2025 — 2:00 PM

Board Meetings

Madera Irrigation District
12152 Road 28 1/4
Madera, CA 93637

Webinar Access:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82447636355?pwd=R3RRc2s5ZVd5NEc5SU9nMStyTFdTZz09

Conference Call In Number: 1-699-900-9128 or 1-346-248-7799

Meeting ID: 824 47636355
Passcode: 278064

Zoom or in-person

Date: November 12, 2025 — 9:00 AM

Location:
Blankenship & Company
1663 N Schnoor Street, Suite 105
Madera, CA 93637

Date: November 12, 2025

Madera Water District

Location:
Blankenship & Company
1663 N Schnoor Street, Suite 105
Madera, CA 93637

NEW DATE!!
Meet: November 20, 2025 – 6:00 PM
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97824600002?pwd=dWMveDhYV056Q0Rra3BrWmtWa3JQUT09
Phone: 669-444-9171
Meeting ID: 978 2460 0002
Passcode: 943651

Location:
Fresno Irrigation District
2907 South Maple, Fresno, CA 93725
(Teleconference and In-Person)

November 24, 2025 – 1:30 PM

Board Meetings

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84947527347?pwd=XdPinuv6tr69GTiZmbFvi7X1SHiCye.1

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States: 1 (669) 900-6833
Webinar ID: 849 4752 7347
Passcode: 850297

200 W 4th Street
3rd Floor Presentation Room
Madera, CA 93637

In-Person & Teleconference

McMullin GSA (Across the River West of FID Boundary) Board of Directors

Date: November 5, 2025 — 2:00 PM

Location:
Kerman Community Center
15101 W Kearney Blvd.
Kerman, CA 93630

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84805077612
Conference Call: 1-669-900-6833
Meeting ID: 848 0507 7612

This meeting will be held live and in-person.

Date: November 10, 2025 — 11:00 AM

Location:
Riverstone Lodge
370 Lodge Road South
Madera, CA 93636
Phone: 559-283-8276

August 5, 2025 – 10:00AM

Meetings

Board of Supervisors Chambers
200 W 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637

Date: November 12, 2025 — 1:30 PM

Location:
Chowchilla Water District
327 South Chowchilla Boulevard
Chowchilla, CA 93610

Phone: 559-665-3747
Conference Call: 877-594-8353
Participant Passcode: 66771076

Date: August 25, 2025 – 1:30 PM (Board Meetings)
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89558705395?pwd=lwu1rnTgWYbfaXbCBMajJDyIYQP3e0.1
Phone: 1 (669) 900-6833
Webinar ID: 895 5870 5395 | Passcode: 627457
Location: 200 W 4th Street, 3rd Floor Presentation Room, Madera, CA 93637
Format: Teleconference

Status: CANCELLED
Date: November 4, 2025 — 10:00 AM

Location:
Board of Supervisors Chambers
200 W 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637

News

https://mailchi.mp/calpolicycenter/whats-current-issue-7860810?e=98cee789b9

https://mailchi.mp/d1bfaf5b448b/water-blueprint-for-the-san-joaquin-valley-october-2025-blog-post?e=703bf642fc

https://mailchi.mp/calpolicycenter/whats-current-issue-7860791?e=98cee789b9

https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/23506-californias-water-projects-stumble-as-climate-pressures-mount

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article312124971.html

Join us on October 29 at 10am to discuss rule and measurement changes the Madera County GSA (MCGSA) is considering. As the year winds down, the MCGSA is considering several important issues regarding SGMA implementation that will affect you. MAWA is holding a member meeting to provide information to, and receive feedback from our members.

The issues we will discuss include:

  • Measurement
  • ET data source
  • Groundwater accounting platform
  • Domestic Well Mitigation
  • Program rules
  • Costs
  • Potential Allocation Rule Changes
  • Penalty increase
  • Potential carryover decay
  • Allocation loss for overuse

Call or email us for additional information or look on the GSA’s website here.

Given the impact these issues will have on growers, it’s important to discuss them and be prepared to provide feedback at the GSA Committee meetings. We have invited GSA Committee members and GSA Staff at our member meeting to answer questions and hear input. 

What: MAWA Member Meeting

When: Wednesday, 10/29/25 @ 10am

Where: Madera County Farm Bureau, 1102 S Pine St, Madera, CA 93637

Join the GSA’s Groundwater Accounting Platform Webinar

This Friday, 10/3/25, 1-3pm

This webinar will feature demonstrations from the three groundwater accounting platform vendors the GSA is considering. Although five vendors initially responded to the GSA’s RFP, this demonstration will only include three companies. These were the top choices as identified in a recent grower survey from the GSA.

These are:

At GSA Committee meetings, MAWA advocated for more in depth demonstrations from the vendors prior to moving forward with selections. This webinar should provide an opportunity to view the platforms and provide feedback to the GSA. This grower feedback will be crucial to selecting the right platform for Madera County.

The webinar can be accessed via zoom here.

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation today published a notice of intent in the Federal Register to prepare an environmental impact statement for proposed “North-to-South Water Transfers” in California.

As the lead agency, Reclamation will conduct a National Environmental Policy Act review to evaluate the potential effects of annual water transfers beginning as soon as 2028. The EIS will analyze a defined range of potential transfers from willing sellers in Northern California primarily upstream of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to buyers located primarily south of the Delta and in the San Francisco Bay Area.
 
Water transfers are a common tool in water resource planning to supplement decreased water supplies and meet anticipated existing demands. These water transfers would be proposed and considered for approval on an annual basis as needed to help meet existing demands and would not serve any new demands.
 

Reclamation will accept written comments on the proposed content and scope of the EIS through Oct. 3. Comments may be submitted by mail (postmarked by Oct. 3) or email to:   

Nicole Johnson
Bureau of Reclamation
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
Email: njohnson@usbr.gov
 
Additional details on the virtual meetings and project information are available at: North-to-South Water Transfers| California-Great Basin.
 

Download/View Flyer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On Tuesday, Sept. 9, between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Reclamation will hold a quarterly meeting to provide an update on the Long-Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. The meeting will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams. For meeting materials, including the link to the meeting, visit www.usbr.gov/mp/bdo.

Download/View Flyer

By Joel Hastings

The Madera Irrigation District held a special board meeting on August 25, 2025 at the District offices in order to reconsider its strategy on a domestic well mitigation program. The open meeting scheduled for 1:30 p.m. was preceded by a 30-minute closed session. With no reportable action, the board moved into a GSA session right away, with discussion led by Assistant General Manager Dina Nolan…

https://waterwrights.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cf9def345c9f945c512abce3c&id=0f9b7413e1&e=590a67dd67

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Continuing to focus on maximizing California’s water supplies, the Bureau of Reclamation is increasing the water supply allocations for Central Valley Project contractors south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta.
 
While all north-of-Delta Central Valley Project contractors are currently at 100% of their supplies, south-of-Delta irrigation water service and repayment contractors are increased to 55% from 50%, and municipal and industrial water service and repayment contractors are increased to 80% from 75% of their historical use, or public health and safety needs, whichever is greater.
“As California’s primary precipitation season concludes, we now have greater certainty about water availability for the remainder of the water year, said Acting Regional Director Adam Nickels. “This allows us to responsibly adjust Central Valley Project allocations to better meet the needs of our water users while continuing to support environmental requirements.”
 
All other Central Valley Project contract allocations remain the same per the April 28 water supply update. Initial Central Valley Project contract allocations were announced on Feb. 25.
 
The adjustment also reinforces Reclamation’s commitment to achieving the objectives outlined in Executive Order 14181, which seeks to maximize water supplies within the Central Valley Project.
 
 
The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation’s largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits.

© Madera County Farm Bureau
All Rights Reserved 2021

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