The groundwater sustainability agency continues awaiting state approval with no clear timeline, prompting confusion. A determined well registration campaign launches with voluntary registration through December 2025, looking to follow with mandatory requirements if compliance remains low. The committee forwarded the first domestic well mitigation case without a recommendation due to concerns about the vetting process and responsibility attribution for the $50,000 well replacement.
The board approved a new executive services agreement with the Tulare Irrigation District to handle day-to-day operations while retaining policy authority. A $45,000 groundwater banking feasibility study was authorized to explore storing water in stable areas for delivery to subsiding regions. The first annual water quality testing of 1,300 wells revealed some contamination exceedances and highlighted challenges with sampling dedicated monitoring wells due to water stagnation issues.
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.
