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.
The board discussed selecting a preferred project portfolio by August 2026, and staff said a follow-up response to DWR is targeted for September 15 under a requested extension. Only the Brackish Groundwater Restoration Project meets the seawater intrusion minimum threshold in modeling, with ~$1B in estimated capital costs. Affordability concerns dominated discussion. The board directed staff not to use Tier 1 reserves, with formal fee approval expected at the June 11 meeting.
Modeling found that even eliminating all agricultural pumping in illustrative no-action runs still did not meet seawater intrusion minimum thresholds by 2040. Economic analysis estimated illustrative pumping cuts could reduce irrigated acreage ~11%–17% and gross farm revenue ~10%–13.5%. The updated baseline projects the saltwater front reaching Salinas by ~2060 if current conditions continue, setting the benchmark for evaluating future projects and management actions.
