Stay on top of SGMA

Growers face a Sept. 1 deadline to commit to surface water, and staff urged use of available surface water. Groundwater pumping is now metered and being monitored, including discussion of the existing $5,000 penalty for unreported active wells. A Friant-Kern subsidence plan is due by year-end; possible tighter pumping/recharge rules were discussed.

Staff said the GSP update is on track for public release around August 20, 2026 and board adoption in December 2026, with updates to sustainable management criteria, monitoring, and interconnected surface water analysis. The Sacramento Regional Water Bank CEQA work is advancing and could help reduce stream flow depletion factor impacts on transfers. The board approved sending revised JPA language to the four signatory agencies for their approval.

Board approved the Pine Grove tank parcel transfer and the consent agenda. Staff discussed wildfire resiliency grant efforts and county GIS gaps. The GM employment agreement and legal counsel report were pulled; staff noted the GM candidate withdrew acceptance and said next steps would be discussed in closed session.

Staff said golden mussel treatments cost about $540,000 to date, with 2026 totals projected at $620k–$640k; no mussels have been found. KNDLA demand management materials described three ramp-down options, and staff urged a coordinated cross-GSA framework. The Regional Board accepted the CV Salts management zone proposal in July 2026; implementation plan due Jan 4, 2027.

Both boards approved keeping existing groundwater minimum thresholds (Alternative 1) rather than raising them, adding an early-warning layer through Local Management Levels set 20 feet below measurable objectives, with staff directed to draft more prescriptive trigger language. The RMS monitoring well network expansion from 17 to 29 wells was approved as a formal GSP amendment. Both boards voted to retain non-dry-year language and provide an offsets explanation to DWR.