The Advisory Committee did not reach consensus on a single IIS portfolio. Debate focused on Portfolio 3A (~$1.07B capital) and Portfolio 4 (~$612M). Members discussed considerations including cost allocation, injection pilots/aquifer testing, financing, and alternative supplies, and indicated both 3A and 4 should be evaluated with those considerations, though no formal vote was recorded. Staff said they will bring their own recommendation addressing seawater intrusion to the Board.
The board approved FY 2027 groundwater sustainability fees despite a last-minute legal objection over fee authority and cost allocation. Staff presented three remaining project portfolios to address seawater intrusion, with a portfolio decision anticipated in August; Portfolio 1 is the only one shown as meeting seawater intrusion thresholds in the presented effectiveness summary, while staff said Portfolio 3A is close and could work with adjustments.
Staff shared updated geology and water quality analyses for the Forebay and Upper Valley subbasins, finding no statistically significant link between pumping and evaluated water-quality constituents (including nitrate and gross alpha). AEM surveys refined subsurface mapping; no immediate management changes were proposed. Draft GSP amendments are planned for early August Board review and a 90-day comment period, with staff discussing a return around November.
The board directed analysis of GSA's legal authority/options to impose an interim moratorium on new deep aquifer wells and/or caps/limits on extractions, with a report back within 90 days, responding to a roughly 12-fold increase in agricultural pumping since 2009. A brackish groundwater restoration feasibility study was approved for federal submission to preserve funding eligibility, CEQA review was paused. A motion to accept the jointly prepared Deep Aquifers Management Memorandum failed.
The board is expected to select a preferred implementation path by late August in response to DWR's request for additional information on seawater intrusion in the 180/400-Ft subbasin. Staff said the brackish groundwater restoration project is the one standalone project identified that can meet the seawater intrusion minimum threshold. Draft GSP amendments for all six subbasins are targeted for late summer/early fall before a mandatory 90-day public comment period and January 2027 submission.
