Subsidence Goalposts, Sites Reservoir at $1.36B, $200K Basin Fee — Jun 22, 2026

This week the Department of Water Resources is treating subsidence as "irreparable harm" requiring immediate action — a stance shift surfaced at three different boards this week (Chowchilla, North Kern, Omochumne Hartnell). The California Water Commission lifted Sites Reservoir's conditional funding ceiling to $1.36 billion as a September water-rights decision looms. The State Water Board is floating a $200,000 application fee just to request a basin exclusion — comments due July 10. Plus: Pajaro Valley and Desert Water Agency rate decisions hitting binding action, San Antonio Basin enforcement letters going out, the Tulare Lake sub-basin consolidating to a single state liaison, federal "One Big Beautiful Bill" money landing on Delta-Mendota Canal repairs, and conjunctive-use recharge gaining momentum across three different boards.Read the full recaps at waterone.ai | Try Chat GSA for instant answers about your districtAI can make mistakes. Check important info.WaterOne.ai (Mizu Analytics, Inc.) strives to provide timely, accurate, and reliable coverage of water, agriculture, and related issues. However, no guarantee is made as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. All content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, or professional advice. Users are solely responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided, and WaterOne disclaims all liability for errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use of this site. The opinions expressed are those of the authors.