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 set the time and place for a July 14 public hearing to consider proposed Safe, Clean Water Program modifications for Projects E5 and F6, including a proposed San Francisquito Creek KPI rewrite that drew significant debate and a proposed expansion of public art grant eligibility countywide. The Board also approved $1,776,760 in FY2026 standard grants to four organizations for water and environmental projects.
The board adopted the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan, projecting sufficient supplies in normal years through 2050 but potential shortfalls up to 26% in dry-year scenarios. Demand is projected to rise about 86% by 2050, and SSJID is urging cities to consider accelerating Phase Two as early as 2032, though no city has committed. Uncertainty remains around SGMA and Bay-Delta Plan amendment implementation.
FY 2026-27 GSA budget adopted with an estimated 50–60% fee reduction by drawing down fund balance rather than charging full program cost. Supervisors supported moving toward use-based/metered fees, with policy items expected late July/early August. Staff said reduced fees aren't sustainable long-term; Ramos requested fund balance targets and exploring multi-year averaging for predictability.
Pumping projections are down 25–70% from the GSP, and monitoring shows groundwater levels above objectives and thresholds. The Board approved extraction fees for the next two semiannual billing periods and opened a 45-day public comment period on the draft GSP periodic evaluation. City of Ventura staff discussed possible future fixed cost-sharing if Ventura pumping declines.
The board approved Option 2 of the FY 2026–27 budget with $520K for well mitigation (not to be spent without outside funding) and discussed a $16/acre-foot sustainable yield reservation fee concept. Staff said the Tule Southeast interim plan is targeted for June 2027 and Tulare Lake may follow; a revised GSP is slated for March 2027. The board also amended its allocation policy, removing export restrictions and replacing them with detailed reporting requirements.
