Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The board approved staff finalizing and submitting the updated DWR additional-information response for the 180/400 subbasin GSP evaluation and amendment, with several technical edits. Capital Core Group presented a federal funding due-diligence approach. The GM reported Ocean Well and San Jose Water Company interest in exploring deep-water desal feasibility, with possible agreements to return for board consideration.
GSA staff reported groundwater fee rates were reduced about 55% after the GSA allocated $750,000 from fund balance and approved the revised levy roll on Aug. 11 for placement on property tax bills. Staff said the Periodic Evaluation draft is planned around Oct. 19 for comment, with final action tentatively Dec. 8. Staff discussed tentative interim refinements to evaluate streamflow depletion as May–July percentage depletion.
The board approved technical memoranda responding to DWRs clarification request on the GSP Amendment and 2025 Periodic Evaluation, with an October 1 submission deadline. Staff said a demand management MOU is being developed for GSA board consideration by the end of 2026, with programs discussed as developed in 2027 and implemented in 2028. The board also approved an updated effective precipitation methodology for annual groundwater accounting.
Staff said San Luis Reservoir could fill this winter, with up to a 93% chance by Feb. 2027, putting 2026 carryover at risk after Jan. 1 and prompting growers to consider prompt recharge requests. SB 872 would create a California Aqueduct subsidence repair fund and awaits the governors action by end of September. Sites Reservoir nears a Phase 2 milestone with a grower workshop planned for early October.
The board adopted the district's draft GSP with an annual pumping cap staff said is well above current use. Staff said the canal will ramp down in late October and shut off Nov. 1; the district expects stored water to cover the outage and a transition to the new canal if operations resume early. Deliveries are 200+ acre-feet below typical, tied to reduced sawmill and pistachio demand, though staff called the shortfall manageable.
