The Board approved a settlement agreement in a canal litigation matter in closed session. Strong groundwater extraction fee collections were reported at 96.5%, though transitional water fees showed lower collection rates at 77.8%. A revised tentative budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2025-2026 was approved to meet current operational needs.
The GSA will no longer allocate water or charge extraction fees starting in 2026, as all founding member agencies have formed their own exclusive GSAs. A comprehensive Land Subsidence Management Plan was presented with major revisions including an expanded management area, extraction-based allocations, and mandatory well metering. Critical groundwater level thresholds must rise significantly to reduce the risk of exceeding the 3‑foot subsidence limit near the Friant‑Kern Canal by 2040
A groundwater management committee recommended strict new pumping limits starting January 2026, restricting users to 0.27 acre-feet per acre annually in the most critical areas to address severe land subsidence threatening canal infrastructure. The committee expanded the regulated area from 2 to 3 miles from the canal and established a four-tier system with the strictest limits closest to the canal. These dramatic reductions from current pumping levels are necessary to prevent continued ...
ETGSA board approved Resolution 2025-02 setting groundwater extraction fees at $26.60 per acre-foot for October 2025-September 2026. Water year 2026 allocations: sustainable yield 0.98 AF/acre (0.15 native + 0.83 precipitation), Tier 1 remains 0.82 AF/acre. Total Tier 1 volume reduced to 128,499 acre-feet as three irrigation districts withdrew while forming independent GSAs. Board extended Tier 1 pre-purchase deadline to November 14th at existing rates due to ongoing transitions. Payment...
A data correction issue with water usage calculations resulted in higher-than-expected charges for Quarter 3, which will be corrected in upcoming invoices. The Board will consider a hardship case for a residential well user facing financial difficulties with unpaid groundwater extraction fees. Landowners have until September 30th to submit all required forms for the 2025 water year, including pre-purchase allocations and exemption applications.
