Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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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.
The spray-cast pipelining program set a production record, lining ~15,500 feet of canal at $84/ft — under the $104/ft budget — with the K-lines from Santa Fe to Escalon targeted next season. The water treatment plant received a CO₂ force majeure notice and is testing sodium hydroxide as an alternative for pH control. Directors thanked crews for managing a difficult irrigation season and noted water clarity improvements from Magneside treatment.
Both boards unanimously approved Phase 2 of a PR campaign to bolster credibility and readiness for state/federal funding. Consultants cited potential sources including Prop 4 (incl. $386M for SGMA/subsidence), cap-and-trade, the state general fund (incl. discussion of ~$2B for DWR subsidence-related efforts), and federal programs. Staff said a unified plan proposal (est. $1.4M) will come to a June meeting.
