The monitoring network was streamlined to 53 official wells, with CASGEM wells to be reintegrated into the portal by July 2026 under a separate tab. Centralized field sampling by a contracted firm will replace the current decentralized GSA collection system beginning Fall 2026. A draft FY 2026-27 budget holding member dues flat at $664,753 was presented for review, with formal adoption scheduled for June 10.
The board approved a $149,820 not-to-exceed contract with Zanjero for a basin-wide net groundwater impact accounting framework, funded through existing assessments. ED Berry said GSAs must advance demand management planning per the GSP. Kleinfelder presented plans for ~$2M federal ARPA-funded monitoring and data projects.
The board discussed developing demand management programs and agreeing on GSA allocation responsibilities by December 31, 2026, consistent with the 2024 GSP update and its 90,000 acre-foot overdraft estimate. Executive Director Julia Berry recommended hiring a consultant to create a standardized accounting method to track each GSA's groundwater impact, building on work already underway by four irrigation districts. Stockton East projects a 43,000–75,000 acre-foot potential deficit by ...
Authority is expanding its groundwater monitoring network with approximately 6 additional well projects to address identified data gaps, with construction expected to begin in early 2026. South Delta region is facing serious water quality and supply challenges, and a monitoring data inventory found minor 2024 gaps that have been located and will be uploaded for state reporting.
The board approved plans for six new groundwater monitoring wells to address data gaps, with individual GSAs taking ownership and maintenance responsibilities. A major demand management program is being developed to reduce groundwater overdraft by 95,000 acre-feet annually, though Category A projects could lower this to 56,000 acre-feet that GSAs must voluntarily allocate among themselves by December 2026. Technical consultants are conducting detailed reviews to improve groundwater model accuracy through parcel-by-parcel validation of precipitation data and other inputs.
