Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Groundwater levels in the Arroyo Seco subbasin remain near sustainability targets following recent wet years; General Manager Weeks said demand management is not needed right now. A five-year Groundwater Sustainability Plan update is expected to be released for a 90-day public review in early September, with a public hearing planned for mid-January. Coastal seawater intrusion continues to pose a major unresolved challenge.
The board approved the Prop 218 Engineer's Report and Prop 26 Cost of Service Study and set Sept. 29, 2026 hearings; Prop 218 ballots will be mailed to affected owners as part of the process. Staff said the neighboring Tule Subbasin interim plan includes discussion of a proposed pumping moratorium, adding urgency to finish the GSP by March 2027 as the state seeks six weeks between meetings. The maximum rates are $26.84 per assessable acre and $19.24 per acre-foot.
The board discussed plans to mail personalized water accounting statements and hold workshops for demand management outreach, noting the staffing transition is within the current budget. A member also flagged new subsidence reports across the Sacramento Valley. The board authorized counsel to finalize a county staffing MOU so a County Management Analyst can serve as CGA administrator, with the intent to transition away from the current third-party contractor over time.
A $50/acre-foot groundwater extraction fee was approved for FY 2026-27 after a majority-protest hearing, along with a penalty policy providing a 12-month cure period before up to $500/acre-foot penalties. A draft recharge policy was discussed but not adopted; commenters raised concerns about leave-behind percentages and technical support.
The district's 2025 audit received a clean opinion, but irrigation operations show a ~$4M annual loss, prompting discussion of future rate and non-rate revenue options. An ~$800K fraudulent disbursement tied to a vendor bank info change led to strengthened internal controls. The board discussed a dual-engine vacuum truck (~$806K) amid upcoming CARB regulation changes; no purchase was approved.
