Title
Consider recommendation from the Permits/Enforcement Committee to approve Groundwater Trust Transfer Contracts for 2025.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board authorize the General Manager to enter into a Groundwater Trust Transfer Contract with Sophora Ltd d/b/a Los Patios and Douglas Miller as presented.
SUMMARY
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider a Permits/Enforcement Committee recommendation to authorize the General Manager to enter into a Groundwater Trust Transfer Contract with Sophora Ltd d/b/a Los Patios for 60 acre-feet of groundwater withdrawal rights and with Mr. Douglas Miller for 11.92 acre-feet.
Under EAA rules, the EAA may enter into a contract with a permit holder to enroll their water into a "groundwater trust" established by the EAA. Water may be held in the trust for any number of contracted years. While in the trust, the EAA controls the permitted withdrawal rights and the permit holder is no longer required to submit required reports associated with the permitted rights or pay aquifer management fees to the EAA. The proposed groundwater trust contract is attached for the board's reference.
At the meeting on February 25, the Permits/Enforcement Committee voted to recommend the board authorize the General Manager to enter into a Groundwater Trust Transfer Contract with Sophora Ltd d/b/a Los Patios and Douglas Miller as presented.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This agenda item does not relate to a specific goal or action step within the Strategic Plan, but supports the general EAA mission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The combined loss of revenue for the EAA General Fund and the EAHCP Fund associated with these trust contracts for 2025 is $6,328.96.