Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
The board extended a 45-day moratorium on new agricultural well permits in sensitive groundwater areas, with a public hearing scheduled for October 7th to consider further extensions. New state requirements for land subsidence management will require agencies to actively raise groundwater levels above critical thresholds. The agency also launched a fee study process to develop a funding structure for ongoing operations, with public workshops planned and fee adoption targeted for May 2026.
DWR released draft Land Subsidence Best Management Practices in July and held three public meetings in Clovis, Delano, and Willows September 9-11. For those who couldn't attend, we've compiled the key takeaways: 10 actions DWR is asking (monitoring networks, critical head analysis, infrastructure coordination, etc.) and 3 to avoid. The guide is not regulation, but clarifies what is needed. Includes four risk scenarios and Q&As from meetings. Public Comments due Sept 22.
The board approved a $976,300 contract with EKI Environment and Water to implement the Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan, choosing them over Todd Groundwater due to 30% lower costs and innovative optional services. The contract includes enhanced implementation support through optional services totaling $243,000, featuring a public dashboard for tracking progress and grant application assistance. A smooth transition from the previous consultant is planned, with proper data...
The board reviewed land repurposing program compliance, noting nine of 14 participants to the non-watering agreement showed water use due to monitoring anomalies, not actual irrigation, and granted waivers. Two appeals seeking irrigated agriculture designations were unanimously denied for lacking required infrastructure. The board also approved a $2M contract for converting 150 acres of almonds into native grassland with a 50-year deed restriction under the state’s multi-benefit land...
The Board approved a $90 million Phase 1 scope for critical canal subsidence repairs, with federal funding being pursued to avoid potential cost-sharing obligations for member agencies. A planned maintenance outage at O'Neill Forebay from October 6-25 will significantly reduce pumping capacity during a critical water delivery period. The Authority continues pursuing $1 billion in federal infrastructure funding, though allocation decisions remain uncertain with timeline extending to October...
