diff --git a/src/core/MOM.F90 b/src/core/MOM.F90
index 826bfd8892..06d8d11435 100644
--- a/src/core/MOM.F90
+++ b/src/core/MOM.F90
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ module MOM
 
 ! ODA modules
 use MOM_oda_driver_mod,        only : ODA_CS, oda, init_oda, oda_end
-use MOM_oda_driver_mod,        only : set_prior_tracer, set_analysis_time, get_posterior_tracer
+use MOM_oda_driver_mod,        only : set_prior_tracer, set_analysis_time, apply_oda_tracer_increments
 ! Offline modules
 use MOM_offline_main,          only : offline_transport_CS, offline_transport_init, update_offline_fields
 use MOM_offline_main,          only : insert_offline_main, extract_offline_main, post_offline_convergence_diags
@@ -445,11 +445,6 @@ subroutine step_MOM(forces, fluxes, sfc_state, Time_start, time_interval, CS, Wa
     h    ! h : layer thickness (meter (Bouss) or kg/m2 (non-Bouss))
   real :: I_wt_ssh
 
-  real, pointer, dimension(:,:,:) :: ha !< The layer thicknesses on the analysis grid
-                                        !! returned by call to get_posterior_tracer
-  type(thermo_var_ptrs), pointer :: tva !< A structure pointing to various thermodynamic variables
-                                        !! on the analysis grid returned by call to get_posterior_tracer
-
   type(time_type) :: Time_local, end_time_thermo, Time_temp
   type(group_pass_type) :: pass_tau_ustar_psurf
   logical :: showCallTree
@@ -799,8 +794,6 @@ subroutine step_MOM(forces, fluxes, sfc_state, Time_start, time_interval, CS, Wa
       call set_prior_tracer(CS%Time, G, GV, CS%h, CS%tv, CS%odaCS)
       ! call DA interface
       call oda(CS%Time,CS%odaCS)
-      ! update increments to model state if needed
-      call get_posterior_tracer(CS%Time, CS%odaCS,G, GV, ha, tva,increment=.true.)
   endif
 
   if (showCallTree) call callTree_waypoint("calling extract_surface_state (step_MOM)")
@@ -1119,6 +1112,8 @@ subroutine step_MOM_thermo(CS, G, GV, u, v, h, tv, fluxes, dtdia, Time_end_therm
 
   call enable_averaging(dtdia, Time_end_thermo, CS%diag)
 
+  call apply_oda_tracer_increments(dtdia,G,tv,h,CS%odaCS)
+
   if (update_BBL) then
     !   Calculate the BBL properties and store them inside visc (u,h).
     ! This is here so that CS%visc is updated before diabatic() when
diff --git a/src/ocean_data_assim/MOM_oda_driver.F90 b/src/ocean_data_assim/MOM_oda_driver.F90
index 1cc45675f1..6fe553a234 100644
--- a/src/ocean_data_assim/MOM_oda_driver.F90
+++ b/src/ocean_data_assim/MOM_oda_driver.F90
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ module MOM_oda_driver_mod
   private
 
   public :: init_oda, oda_end, set_prior_tracer, get_posterior_tracer
-  public :: set_analysis_time, oda, save_obs_diff
+  public :: set_analysis_time, oda, save_obs_diff, apply_oda_tracer_increments
 
 #include <MOM_memory.h>
 
@@ -557,5 +557,13 @@ subroutine save_obs_diff(filename,CS)
     return
   end subroutine save_obs_diff
 
+  subroutine apply_oda_tracer_increments(dt,G,tv,h,CS)
+    real, intent(in) :: dt ! the tracer timestep (seconds)
+    type(ocean_grid_type),    intent(in)    :: G      !< ocean grid structure
+    type(thermo_var_ptrs),    intent(inout) :: tv     !< A structure pointing to various thermodynamic variables
+    real, dimension(SZI_(G),SZJ_(G),SZK_(G)),  &
+                              intent(in)    :: h      !< layer thickness (m or kg/m2)
+    type(odaCS),              intent(inout) :: CS     !< the data assimilation structure
 
+  end subroutine apply_oda_tracer_increments
 end module MOM_oda_driver_mod