The Windrock Creek GSA voted on Nov. 20 to extend its periodic evaluation and plan-amendment schedule to Dec. 2026 and to authorize staff to enter a contract with Larry Walker Associates not to exceed $30,000 for the extra work if grant funding ends in March 2026.

Becky Fairbanks briefed the board on schedule options. She said the current grant-funded schedule targets a March 2026 final periodic evaluation, but extending to Dec. 2026 would allow the GSA to fold in the annual-water-report data and pending DWR guidance on interconnected surface waters and interbasin coordination. Staff recommended either finish by March with grant funding or extend with a separate contract; the board voted to extend with the contract option and approved the not-to-exceed $30,000 figure.

Staff also reported a legal review of monitoring-well solicitation documents required further revision. The invitation to bid was rescheduled for Dec. 5, with a notice-of-intent to award on Jan. 5 and likely mobilization and well installations in February (work to be done through March).

On pilot projects, staff described a small conjunctive-use feasibility test with South Feather Water and Power in which the team diverted approximately 10 cubic feet per second for about two weeks. "We diverted, like, 10 CFS or about the equivalent of, like, 10 basketballs down for, like, about 2 weeks. Water was running... it took about 8 days," Fairbanks said, and she reported roughly half of the diverted water reached the downstream landowner while the remainder contributed to direct recharge along the flow path.

Separately, the Palermo multi-benefit feasibility pilot has about $80,000 for clearing roughly 1.7 miles of drainage ditch in pre-approved segments; permitting work is proceeding with California Department of Fish and Wildlife on a section-by-section basis with support from Butte County Public Works.

The board received the updates and set the extended schedule; no additional appropriations beyond the authorized contract were approved at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will publish the monitoring-well solicitation (Dec. 5), award and mobilize in early 2026 if procurement proceeds, and continue feasibility work for conjunctive-use and Palermo pilot projects.