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 adopted the 2027 groundwater allocation at 0.82 acre-feet per acre with a $500/acre-foot overage penalty, and approved placing $451,650 in unpaid fees on the county tax roll for collection. CDFW advised emergency stream work may start immediately for imminent threats, with notice due within 14 days.
The board approved a supplemental cash call of ~$159,000 split 20 ways (~$7,963 each) to cover items over or not in the original budget (audit, demand management, well mitigation). Demand management policy options—covering native yield, carryover water, transfers, and more—remain under active review, with recommendations to follow. A monitoring-well data gap may require initiating a new well project by year-end if no suitable existing well is found, representing a significant unbudgeted cost.
Director Prieto was elected Board Chair and Director Pacheco as Vice-Chair. Staff reported 8,229 wells registered (4,512 domestic; 2,847 agricultural). Kings River runoff is ~75% of average for 2025–26, with FID deliveries ending August 15 and Pine Flat Reservoir at ~355,000 AF, dropping ~9,000 AF/day. The August 27 board meeting was canceled, with a special meeting planned for September 3 where a well-registration enforcement policy may be considered.
The board approved a new water supply agreement with Western Hills Water District, including transfer of 4,791 acre-feet of banked water to KCWA and canceling an 8,000 acre-foot legacy obligation. A golden mussel emergency declaration was continued, with a public forum set for August 5 at Bakersfield College. The board also adopted reduced zone of benefit assessments of approximately $30 million for FY 2026-27, down from the ~$50 million maximum authorized.
The board approved a ~$287,602 second cash call split equally among 12 member agencies, with intent to true-up using Jan–Dec 2026 pumping data in next FY's first cash call. Meter compliance deadline moved to Oct. 1, 2026, and a public hearing was set for Aug. 27, 2026 on meter penalty fees. Staff will develop an inactive-well exemption process.
