The Board approved proceeding with the 2027 Groundwater Sustainability Plan Periodic Evaluation without a formal amendment, deferring major updates to 2032. Five priority projects were approved for the Hungry Hollow Groundwater Focus Area to address a 6,000 acre-foot annual deficit, with three already under implementation. The agency is advancing a Proposition 26 regulatory fee structure, with key decisions scheduled for February 2026.
GSA appointed seven landowners to the Hungry Hollow Groundwater Working Group to develop priority management actions, expecting recommendations in January 2026. A fee study is advancing with stakeholder outreach and analyses through January, aiming to establish a 5-year budget forecast and stable fee structure. Yolo County extended its agricultural well permit moratorium through August 2026 but added an exemption for replacement wells under conditions such as restrictions on crop conversions.
The board extended a 45-day moratorium on new agricultural well permits in sensitive groundwater areas, with a public hearing scheduled for October 7th to consider further extensions. New state requirements for land subsidence management will require agencies to actively raise groundwater levels above critical thresholds. The agency also launched a fee study process to develop a funding structure for ongoing operations, with public workshops planned and fee adoption targeted for May 2026.
