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 a $22.90/AF FY 2026-27 groundwater sustainability fee (Resolution 2026-001) for collection on the county tax roll; the vote was 4-0 (unanimous). Appeals of LandIQ consumptive-use data are due June 8; staff plans to return in June with appeal recommendations. A Fallowed Land Registry demo was presented; a virtual training is set for June 3.
Water supplies significantly exceed demand and staff said supplies are tied to CCWD water rights; a projected 2050 population decline could pressure rates. Water loss exceeds the state standard (about 89 g/conn/day; ~429M gal/yr cited); staff outlined steps to improve data and seek an adjusted standard. FY 2026-27 prelim budget: ~$42.2M revenue/$40.9M expense and a ~$20M 5-year water CIP shortfall; no Board action taken.
The committee voted unanimously to recommend replacing groundwater-level proxies with InSAR satellite data and paired monitoring wells to directly measure land subsidence, with a 0.5-foot cumulative threshold. On interconnected surface water, it recommended a combined show-progress/proceed-carefully approach while deferring new SMCs (6–1, with 1 abstention/non-vote). Next: groundwater-level SMCs and GDE topics (incl. Valley Oaks/urban forest).
Golden mussels were detected at the Penitencia and Santa Teresa Water Treatment Plants, with no impact to drinking water quality. Valley Water previously suspended (Aug 2025) San Luis-to-Calero transfers and staff estimates about $2 million in near-term mitigation. Staff said 99 of 102 percolation ponds can receive imported water. The Board approved using CM/GC delivery for four dam/seismic projects.
The board adopted a $1.45/acre operations fee for FY 2026-27 and approved a ~$632k baseline budget (~$650k revenue). Discussion noted a ~$65k shortfall after last year's fee reduction and highlighted upcoming work on demand management (due Jan 2027) and domestic well mitigation. The demand management program is advancing with legal and procedural complexity around potential pumping fees still being worked through.
