MAGSA’s Meter Rebate Program and Weather Station Installation Project With Funding by a Bureau of Reclamation Grant Ends in September
In April 2023, the McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency (MAGSA) was awarded a $2.8 million grant through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Program. Since the grant was awarded, MAGSA has developed its Meter, Telemetry and Monitoring Rebate Program to help landowners offset the cost of installing groundwater meters and telemetry equipment.
The grant has also funded the purchase and installation of six weather stations in the MAGSA region.
The electromagnetic flow meters with telemetry are providing accurate water use data, while weather stations will deliver timely information that helps landowners make informed irrigation decisions. Together, these tools improve local data collection and give both growers and MAGSA a clearer understanding of groundwater use.
As MAGSA General Manager Matt Hurley explains, “You can’t adequately manage what you don’t accurately measure.”
The grant will conclude on September 30, 2026, marking the completion of a three-year effort to support growers and strengthen groundwater management throughout the region.
Learn more about the Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program here.
More Than $1.7 Million in Rebates Distributed to MAGSA Landowners
Since the Meter and Telemetry Rebate Program launched in 2024, MAGSA has distributed more than $1.7 million in rebates to eligible landowners, helping offset the cost of groundwater meters, telemetry equipment, installation, and monitoring services.
With the Bureau of Reclamation grant ending on September 30, 2026, MAGSA is focused on ensuring all available grant funding is distributed before the program closes. Staff are actively contacting landowners who have started the rebate process but still have remaining steps to complete, such as finalizing installation or submitting reimbursement documentation.
To date, over 80% of eligible wells within MAGSA are equipped with meters and telemetry systems. Landowners who did not meet the original meter and telemetry compliance deadline may still be eligible to receive a rebate while funding remains available. If a landowner has not completed the rebate process, MAGSA encourages them to contact the office as soon as possible to determine eligibility and complete the required steps before the grant expires.
6 Weather Stations Will Provide Localized, Accurate Data to Inform more Precise Irrigation Decisions
The six weather stations funded through the Bureau of Reclamation grant will provide localized weather data to help landowners make informed irrigation decisions and improve on-farm water management. By delivering reliable, local weather information, the stations provide another valuable tool for efficient water use.
Five of the six stations are installed within delineated sectors across MAGSA’s service area. Each sector is approximately 20,000 acres creating micro-climates that provide growers with site-specific, real-time data to help optimize on-farm irrigation and conserve groundwater.
Once the sixth weather station has been installed, MAGSA anticipates the data will be made available through the MAGSA website for landowners by this fall.
