MID Takes Pivotal Step Towards Preservation of Groundwater by Modesto Irrigation District Aug 14, 2023 Member Submitted News With continued vision, leadership, and innovation in sustainable groundwater management, the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Board of Directors took the first steps in moving forward a Long-Term Groundwater Replenishment Program (GRP). The GRP is a voluntary, 20-year program open to all water users in the Modesto Subbasin. In wet years where MID irrigators and the City of Modesto have received full uncapped allocations, MID will make surface water available to applicants. This program is part of a series of groundwater management actions spurred by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. These actions are aimed at reducing reliance on pumping, promoting groundwater storage programs, improving both the availability and quality of water to disadvantaged communities, providing flood control, and protecting our treasured groundwater for generations. In a unanimous vote at the Tuesday, August 8 Board meeting, MID’s Board set the GRP’s in-lieu water price at $200 per acre-foot and the conjunctive use price at $125 per acre-foot. By a majority vote, the Board also approved the Long-Term GRP Application and Agreement that sets forth the program’s terms and conditions. “MID has a long-standing history as a champion and leader in groundwater management. I’m proud of this Board and MID staff’s commitment to protecting the District and the Modesto Subbasin for generations to come,” said MID Board President Larry Byrd. The final version of the GRP Application and Agreement will be available on MID’s website – mid.org – on Monday, August 14 and MID will begin taking applications on this date, with commencement and implementation of the GRP to follow completion of pending environmental review. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis for the first 50 percent of water available. In the years where the MID Board determines the availability of GRP water, the remaining available GRP water will be held in reserve for distribution on a parity basis for applications received in the first 30 days after the determination is made.
