By Don A. Wright
The Friant Water Authority board of directors met at the Hilton Garden Inn at 8715 West Hillsdale Avenue in Visalia on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Before we get started I have it on good authority July 30th is National Chili Dog Day and National Cheese Cake Day. So, we got that going for us. And think about for a moment; besides the obvious Chili Cheese Cake Dog consolidation – none of this would be – as in – even exist – without farmers. I also had the pleasure of seeing Karen Clark, formerly of Westlands Water District and now with LSA Environmental.
The Meeting
Things got rolling a little late due to an extended closed session. Chairman Rick Borges runs a good meeting so the overtime was less than 20 minutes. I did notice they fired up open session before most of the folks waiting, and there were a good dozen of us, had much of a chance to take their seats. I got to have my computer warm up time. But that is a very minor complaint in the course of the universe spinning in space.
First, public comment wherein John Bison of Green Leaf informed the board his firm has a good grasp on the golden mussel situation. That’s good news. I mentioned in public comment the California Water Alliance, CalWA, is looking for allies and hopeful that pays off in an improved connection. The consent calendar was also approved.
Finances
CFO Wilson Orvis gave the board a rundown on the audit, which went very well, both the audit and the board’s approval. Orvis next told the board there is a need for an investment team to help guide Friant’s investments. Orvis said he’s been working closely with COO Eric Limas and interviewed many entities for this position. The staff recommended PFM Asset Management and the board agreed.
Subsidence Payments
In my opinion the report out of closed session was the big news of the day. The board agreed to consider Resolution No. 2026-3003 a $7.4 million debt obligation Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency now owes Friant for damage to the Friant Kern Canal due to subsidence. Orvis explained the breakdown of how to structure payments and resolve this matter.
This matter has been contentious for years now. In March of 2026 ETGSA, Friant Water Authority and Arvin Edison Water Storage District entered into a settlement agreement. The agenda reported stated, “ETGSA assigned to FWA all outstanding delinquent payment obligations along with the full right to collect those obligations.”
More than $5.7 million or 76-percent of the total $7.4 million debt is owed by 16 landowners, $1.39 million is owed by 25 landowners and the remaining $389,000 is owed by 154 landowners at less than $25,000 apiece.
The resolution stipulates COO Limas and CFO Orvis will negotiate on behalf of FWA. They must jointly determine, “The proposed settlement is in FWA’s best financial interest. The reduction is limited to the minimum amount reasonably necessary to resolve the obligation. And, the proposed settlement is justified based on collectability, collection costs, risk of non-recovery, disputed liability or amount, age of the obligation, debtor financial condition or other relevant collection considerations.”
The resolution is also peppered with statements to protect Friant such as careful review by the Executive Committee and General Counsel. The board liked what it heard and even the districts overlaying the Tule GSA voted unanimously for adoption. Here’s hoping this will ease the way to restore unity in Friant.
COO Report
Limas gave the board a report on the Phase IIA portion of repairs to FKC. Limas said a mandatory pre-bid meeting with take place in August. If a contractor wants to bid they must attend. I believe Friant got a couple of ducats from the Big Beautiful Bill.
Water Report
Ian Buck-Macleod said the water year forecast all converged on a slightly below average year. However, both Lakes Shasta and Folsom are above average. Most releases are for in basin uses and Delta conditions. There is the ever-present topic of temperature management from Shasta but Buck-Macleod believes the US Bureau of Reclamation is going to knock it out of the park this year. Good for them. On the Friant Division Millerton is still able to provide a 100 percent Class I allocation. There was more inflow due to Southern California Edison releases upstream on the San Joaquin River.
Buck-Macleod said golden mussels are still a major focus for Friant. There is an Aquatic Animal Invasive Species permit needed. Evidently this AAIS permit comes from the State Water Resources Control Board due to some other alphabet soup regulatory regime.
Aaron Fukuda, GM Tulare Irrigation District asked when the Sac Dam refurbishing will be finished. Buck-Macleod said the schedule calls for 2028.
El Nino, yes. The strongest El Nino so far is developing as the Pacific Ocean is warming. Sometimes this means a large San Joaquin River flow. Not always but hopefully this coming year.
CEO Johnny Amaral said he expects a South of Delta ag allocation increasing another one to three percent. Friant and the San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority have been working with the Bureau on this. Good for them.
CEO Report
Amaral thanked consultant Austin Ewell and in-house attorney Julie Gantenbein for their help in the recent trip to Washington DC. He also reminded everyone the annual Friant retreat is coming up in November at the El Padre Hotel in Bakersfield. That was that and Borges called it at 11:28am. Our only hope is the food preparation staff was ready and they were. Decent Mexican food, tacos are nature’s perfect food. Go be good to yourselves and others.
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FRIANT WATER AUTHORITY
854 N. Harvard Ave., Lindsay, CA 93247, Office 559/562-6305 Email:information@friantwater.org www.friantwater.org
The Friant Water Authority is a Joint Powers Agreement with 15 districts to operate and maintain the Friant Division of the Central Valley Water Project. Water from the San Joaquin River is diverted at Friant Dam at Millerton Lake to the Madera/Chowchilla Canal to the north and the Friant/Kern Canal to the south. More than one million acres of mostly family farms and numerous communities get their surface supplies from the Friant Division.
Board: Chair Rick Borges
Staff: CEO Johnny Amaral, COO Eric Limas, CFO Wilson Orvis, Water Resources Manager Ian Buck-Macleod, Engineer Katie Duncan, Superintendent Chris Hickernelln & Attorney Julie Gantenbein
