Authority is expanding its groundwater monitoring network with approximately 6 additional well projects to address identified data gaps, with construction expected to begin in early 2026. South Delta region is facing serious water quality and supply challenges, and a monitoring data inventory found minor 2024 gaps that have been located and will be uploaded for state reporting.
The board approved plans for six new groundwater monitoring wells to address data gaps, with individual GSAs taking ownership and maintenance responsibilities. A major demand management program is being developed to reduce groundwater overdraft by 95,000 acre-feet annually, though Category A projects could lower this to 56,000 acre-feet that GSAs must voluntarily allocate among themselves by December 2026. Technical consultants are conducting detailed reviews to improve groundwater model accuracy through parcel-by-parcel validation of precipitation data and other inputs.
A groundwater authority approved a new executive director and faces an urgent 2026 deadline to spend federal funding on drilling 33 new monitoring wells across member agencies. Each local groundwater sustainability agency has 30 days to review proposed well locations in their jurisdiction, with the project aimed at addressing chronic groundwater declines and improving ecosystem monitoring. The authority is working to fill critical data gaps while coordinating individual agencies to select...
