Staff summarized DWR’s additional information request on the GSP and said draft responses will return May 6 for Board approval. Staff also presented an initial review of potential outside‑CMA pumping and groundwater‑level changes; the analysis is incomplete pending county well‑permit/land‑use data and additional pumping reports.
The Board elected new leadership with Steve Jackson as Chair after three new Cuyama Basin Water District directors joined. A geophysical study showed the Santa Barbara Canyon fault is a complex zone with multiple faults tied to large groundwater elevation differences. The Board approved having the FY 2026‑27 budget process consider a $160,000–$280,000 Ventucopa model recalibration after staff outlined current model limitations.
The committee voted 4-1 to recommend deferring any Venticopa management area allocation decision until the next basin-wide model update in 2028, citing new fault data and current model limits. A fault study showed multiple faults and 600+ foot water level differences. The committee discussed staff’s proposed three-part process to track and address potential problem areas outside the Central Management Area.
Board delayed a management area allocation decision until January 2026, pending additional fault investigation, after staff identified material data gaps. A proposed water market policy was sent back for revisions due to unanimous opposition from Advisory Committee and concerns about stakeholder engagement. They also explored options for basin-wide groundwater management outside currently regulated areas, considering hybrid approaches that could include new management zones.
The advisory committee recommended rejecting a proposed water market policy due to concerns about equity and inadequate stakeholder engagement, with members worried small farmers couldn't access water from large corporate sellers. Staff presented mixed results from a Ventucopa area assessment showing stable groundwater levels despite data gaps, while a critical fault investigation was delayed until January, pushing back allocation decisions. The committee also reviewed new procedures for responding to groundwater threshold violations and considered a variance request due to alleged calculation errors. The final decision will be made on the September 3rd Board Meeting.
