Public hearing on groundwater replenishment assessment for FY 2026/27 scheduled for April 14.

Notices Regarding Production of Groundwater Public Hearing for Proposed Replenishment Assessment A public hearing on the replenishment assessment for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Members of the public may participate in this meeting either in person at the District office at 43885 South Grimmer Boulevard, Fremont, or via webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84841469474?pwd=obQRZTJUs2DAAGps3uYVY2u8B1a7BK.1 (Meeting ID: 848 4146 9474; Passcode: 530212), or by calling any of the following numbers: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-346-248-7799 or 1-301-715-8592 (Meeting ID: 848 4146 9474; Passcode: 530212). For Fiscal Year 2026/27, Alameda County Water District (ACWD) staff is proposing no increase in the replenishment assessment rate for groundwater pumped or extracted for purposes other than agricultural and municipal recreation. Accordingly, effective July 1, 2026, the rate would remain at $557 per acre-foot of groundwater extracted. Only property owners with a well, well owners, and operators of wells (or other groundwater extraction facilities) within the ACWD-managed Niles Cone Groundwater Basin would be affected by this rate. It does not apply to the rates and charges for water served to residences and businesses by ACWD's distribution system. The basis for the proposed continuation of the current rate is set forth in the 2026 Survey Report on Groundwater Conditions (Survey Report) and Resolution 26-005, which are available for review at the ACWD Headquarters. They can also be found on-line by doing the following steps: To access the Survey report: To access Resolution No. 26-005: 1. Visit us at: https://www.acwd.org/ 1. Visit us at https://www.acwd.org 2. At the top, click on "Services" 2. At the top, click on "About Us" 3. In the list on the left side, click on "Groundwater Resources" 3. Click on "News and Information" 4. Click on "Groundwater Management" 4. Click on "Public Notices" 5. Click on "Annual Survey Report on Groundwater Conditions" 5. Click on "Resolution No. 26-005" 6. Click on "Annual Survey Report" Revenue from the replenishment assessment helps ACWD offset its costs to replenish and maintain groundwater supplies for the benefit of the users of the groundwater basin. Prior increases in the replenishment assessment rate for production for purposes other than agricultural and municipal recreation, along with grant funding, have enabled ACWD to make substantial upgrades and repairs to aging recharge facilities and to render them in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. For next fiscal year, revenue generated under the current replenishment assessment rate, adopted on April 8, 2025, through Resolution No. 25-018, along with other funding, is expected to be sufficient to cover groundwater basin expenses and fixed and capital costs. Capital items will include projects devoted to water supply and conveyance for groundwater replenishment, and other improvements identified in the Capital Improvement Program for the groundwater basin, as described in the Survey Report. The water supply and conveyance initiatives are critical to ensure reliability of sources of groundwater replenishment for the long-term as each of the District's sources is subject to future uncertainties related to climate change and regulatory and environmental pressures. You are invited to attend the public hearing, to be heard in support of or opposition of the replenishment assessment, the Survey Report, or the Board determination in Resolution No. 26-005 that a replenishment assessment is required. In addition, if you wish to comment on the replenishment assessment rate or Survey Report, you may submit a written comment by mail or online to: Alameda County Water District Attn: Proposed Groundwater RA Rate By Mail: P.O. Box 5110, Fremont, CA 94537-5110 By Drop Box - 43885 South Grimmer Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94538 Online: https://acwd.org/FormCenter/Customers-6/Replenishment-Assessment-Comments-85 Written comments, including online, must be received by ACWD by 5:00 PM on April 14, 2026. Under state law, there is a 120-day statute of limitations for challenging any new, increased, or extended fee or charge. Extension of Deadline of Metering Low Producing Groundwater Production Facilities On February 12, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Alameda County Water District, adopted Resolution No. 26-006 which extended the deadline to install water measuring devices (flow totalizers) on groundwater-producing facilities (e.g., wells), located within the jurisdiction of Alameda County Water District, and which produce such low volumes of water that the cost of metering would not be justified by the replenishment assessment revenue that would be generated within a reasonable period of time. The new deadline is March 9, 2027. For more information, contact ACWD at 510-668-4412. DR 6956267; Mar. 27; Apr. 3, 2026