Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
Groundwater levels remain healthy despite a dry year, with total basin pumping near sustainable yield. The board expressed consensus to explore adding a voting agricultural director by reallocating two conservation district votes and directed staff to draft potential JPA amendments for future member agency consideration. Recent heavy rains and a spilling reservoir signal strong aquifer recharge heading into 2026.
Baffle walls at Pumping Plant 2B were removed after causing flow restrictions, with potential vortexing at higher flows still under evaluation. A public workshop is scheduled for March 18 to present alternatives for the CVC Pool 1 expansion project. A golden mussel task force has been established, with a CVC-specific subcommittee formed to evaluate copper-based and other treatment options.
The revised OPV allocation ordinance was presented for informational purposes only and not adopted, with key calculation and definitional issues still unresolved — growers are urged to submit comments now. Court rulings mandate equal treatment of all water users and supply types, though separate agreements may be negotiated with water purveyors. An upcoming stakeholder workshop already has 30+ RSVPs.
Arsenic levels in certain Corral de Tierra wells rise with groundwater, creating a management paradox with no clear pumping solution. A five-year Groundwater Sustainability Plan evaluation is the primary focus for the coming year, with amendments required. A public commenter warned that seawater intrusion in the 180/400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin could trigger state action within 18–24 months, while staff noted that modeling shows pumping cuts alone will not solve seawater intrusion and ...
Arroyo Seco basin remains sustainable with no threshold violations in five years, and a demand management framework tailored to drought-condition triggers is being developed. Concerns were raised over a potential valley-wide fee to fund voluntary demand management, with public warnings it may be unnecessary here and vulnerable to legal challenge. Board members also questioned the use of a 30-year modeling window over the full 100-year data record for assessing long-term groundwater trends.
