Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Board approved significant changes to water transfer rules, removing zone restrictions and allowing native sustainable yield water transfers anywhere within the district starting in Water Year 2025. They also authorized staff to place liens on properties with unpaid water penalties after unsuccessful collection efforts. Additionally, staff is coordinating with other local agencies to avoid competitive bidding when purchasing available water, with potential budget allocation of $1-2 million.
The committee reviewed draft budget plans for fiscal year 2026 and approved enhanced outreach activities for the domestic well mitigation program to demonstrate proactive community engagement to state regulators. Multiple groundwater monitoring exceedances were reported across several districts, requiring mitigation plans within 60 days under existing agreements. Staff will issue budget pricing requests by month's end with final approval expected in January for March implementation.
The board reviewed governance issues including incorrect membership documentation that needs correction and challenges with the environmental representative selection process due to inactive nominating organizations. South County cities requested changes to their board representation method, arguing that non-member cities currently have inappropriate influence over their representative selection. The committee also established new leadership and approved a quarterly meeting schedule while...
The Technical Advisory Committee discussed a new daily evapotranspiration tool costing $60,000 annually that would provide real-time water usage data to help growers manage irrigation, though some questioned its value. Staff presented a preliminary budget requiring assessment increases from $7.35 to approximately $26-27 per acre for fiscal year 2027 to fund plan updates, well mitigation programs, and implementation costs. The State Water Resources Control Board has still not scheduled a...
The board officially adopted an amended groundwater sustainability plan that addresses all state-identified deficiencies and includes expanded monitoring and new management criteria. New water meter requirements were approved for non-domestic wells using over 2 acre-feet annually, with mandatory installation by April 2026 and a $116,000 annual contract for monthly monitoring services. The agency also submitted a comprehensive exemption request to avoid state reporting fees, arguing they already meet requirements through active management programs, with a decision expected in early 2026.
