The board decreased the 2026 tiered groundwater allocation to 0.75 acre-feet per acre from 1.00 acre-feet last year and approved several infrastructure projects while implementing new well registration requirements. New state subsidence management guidelines may impact future operations but the agency believes it's already in compliance with most requirements.
The advisory committee recommended reducing the 2026 allocation to 1.5 acre-feet per acre due to limited recharge while noting that most growers have sufficient credits to maintain operations. The GSA also advanced inter-agency transfers, updated policies on meters and mitigation, and received a staff recommendation to return to DWR oversight.
The advisory committee reviewed progress toward returning to DWR oversight, recommended a reduced water allocation for 2026, and advanced the well registration program with incentives. Additional discussions covered injection well pilots, well inventory expansion, and subsidence monitoring updates.
The board approved a $5.1 million budget with strong reserves, launched a new voluntary well registration program, and addressed key discoveries about well depths affecting subsidence management. They also planned management structure changes and extended the invoice payment deadline for 2025.
