Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
Proud Partners of
Westlands approved about 8,000 acre-feet of cushion-related and system gain water for existing unfulfilled requests, with seven days to decline. Up to about 28,300 acre-feet of drought pool water remains contingent on arrangements with Reclamation. The board also approved mostly lower water rates retroactive to March 1, 2026. Staff outlined wet-weather recharge options and a major transmission constraint for the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan.
Vice President McKenna relayed a 70–80% chance of an exceptionally wet winter. Staff reported no agency facility damage from Tropical Storm Rachel’s creek flows and is investigating sewer inflow at Cathedral Canyon Lift Station. Mission Creek and Indio Subbasin groundwater workshops are upcoming. The board approved a salary chart adding an Environmental Compliance Coordinator and authorized an easement-rights transaction for $5,000 plus a $700 fee.
Staff reported agricultural water use near 25,000 acre-feet annually and recommended no change to the overall Water Supply Master Plan strategy. The committee approved its July 20 minutes and discussed sharply varying imported-water allocations. Pure Water Silicon Valley remains a recommended drought-resilient project; desalination is a costlier backup under study, with environmental concerns unresolved.
The board honored Rene Magdaleno for 20 years of service and accepted an unmodified financial audit. Army representatives reported shrinking Fort Ord groundwater plumes and ongoing PFAS investigations; district supply wells have no reported PFAS detections. A rate-loading error underbilled about 11,500 accounts by roughly $255,000, followed by delayed bills and confusing statements. Staff apologized, suspended September and October late fees, and revised billing procedures.
EKI identified calibration weaknesses in the Tulare Lake groundwater model and will await its 2026 update. Staff said overdue GEARS reports from either reporting period face 25% monthly penalties beginning February 1, 2027. Staff plans to seek a county bridge loan pending Prop 218 revenue and bring budgets to the next board meeting. A Prop 26 extraction fee would follow a separate agenda process; no fee or loan was approved. The November and December meetings are planned to be combined on a date to be determined.
