The committee approved $77,500 for Optional Task Order 7 for EKI to revise the basin’s subsidence sustainable management criteria and related analysis, better aligning with updated state guidance. They also authorized $128,900 for Optional Task Order 9 to update the groundwater model with post‑2015 data, including refined land use, boundary conditions, and water diversion and extraction inputs.
TAC recommended two task orders totaling $206,400 to revise subsidence management criteria and update the groundwater model for more accurate basin management. Groundwater storage declined by 40,000 acre-feet in water year 2025 as pumping increased to 393,000 acre-feet during drier conditions. Current subsidence standards risk triggering non-compliance despite minimal actual subsidence, prompting the approved criteria revision.
The Technical Advisory Committees expressed support for developing a $129,000 groundwater model enhancement and directed consultants to prepare a detailed task order. The update will refresh the basin's model with current land use, evapotranspiration data, and improved boundary conditions to better show regulators that recent projects and land use changes are advancing sustainability, without redoing the approved GSP's historical findings.
The GSA selected EKI Water and Environment as their new implementation consultant to handle upcoming annual reports and regulatory compliance. A comprehensive domestic well mitigation program is underway through Self Help Enterprises, providing emergency water supplies and solutions for affected wells. The board approved $517,420 to install eight new dedicated monitoring wells across the subbasin to improve groundwater level measurements and tracking.
