Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The board is moving forward with a new daily ET monitoring tool, giving growers more frequent ET and precipitation data tied to their water budgets. Staff presented a draft policy framework for permanent landowner recharge facilities with an 80/20 benefit split. The district is monitoring invasive golden mussels and watching west side treatment trials before pursuing similar actions.
The Board backed Kings Sub-basin groundwater yield framework numbers for Central Kings GSA at about 1.63 acre-feet per acre, based on 2009-2023 data. The district received 12 reverse auction offers for potential recharge basins, averaging about $32,000 per acre excluding two high bids, and reported receiving $1 million in federal reimbursement toward the Wolf Basin land purchase.
Board extended the water return deadline from September 15 to November 1 and revised water budget policies so purchased supplemental water is now used last, while clarifying precipitation credits cannot be transferred or carried over. Looking ahead, staff discussed possibly starting with a low initial allocation (~0.5–0.6 feet per acre) despite reasonable reservoir levels to avoid last year's allocation volatility.
The basin continues making progress with stabilizing groundwater levels after three favorable water years, though many Eastern Principal Aquifer representative wells remain below minimum thresholds while staying above interim milestones. The 2025 Annual Report is being restructured to better communicate basin conditions to state regulators, with draft review planned for February. Technical work on model updates and revised subsidence criteria is underway.
The Board received an update on a $7.1M visitor center and trading post project slated for about 15 months of construction, with work expected to begin around March 2026. Despite public opposition from houseboat owners, amendments to the recreation area concession lease were approved, shifting more inspection duties to the concessionaire and increasing fees. A resolution urging equitable groundwater cost allocation passed unanimously.
