The board approved canceling November and December meetings due to holidays and scheduled a special meeting for December 15th at 8:00 AM. The Landowner Assessment Committee received guidance on using the Proposition 26 process for implementing assessments through a protest-based election system. Technical assistance applications are being processed and coordinated with the agency's technical advisor, showing active landowner engagement in groundwater sustainability projects.
The GSA successfully exited state intervention and returned it to the Department of Water Resources for final review. Outreach efforts to the local grazing community generated strong engagement, with cattlemen asking detailed questions, prompting for a comprehensive November meeting. Development of the assessment fee structure continues with the next committee meeting scheduled for September 30th to determine funding approaches for ongoing operations.
The board unanimously approved the final 2025 groundwater sustainability plan, which will be submitted to the state ahead of a critical September hearing that will determine whether the region faces state intervention. An ad hoc committee is developing a fee structure for non-districted landowners, particularly focusing on "white lands" not covered by existing water districts. Meanwhile, the state is ramping up enforcement of groundwater management implementation, now requiring more detailed explanations from agencies that appear off track in meeting their sustainability goals.
The board approved a cost-sharing agreement for land use monitoring services and began forming committees to develop landowner assessments. State regulators are pushing for changes to the Authority's governing agreement to ensure long-term commitment to groundwater management.
