Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
Proud Partners of
Demand management planning remains in early information-gathering stages, with no decisions made and a more detailed update expected next meeting. Kern Tulare's letter criticizing EWMA demand-management progress prompted EWMA and counsel to respond; Kern Tulare said EWMA can act now and noted it is protesting EWMA's local agency formation commission. The board voted to hold one combined special meeting on June 15.
Forebay and Upper Valley members sought more project review before a July advisory recommendation and August board selection target. Chris Bunn cited an estimated $193 million in annual BGR costs; no fee was approved. Declines in 60% of analyzed Upper Valley wells triggered an action level for further study; the Forebay did not. Both committees approved January minutes. August 3 was selected for the regular meeting, and staff will arrange an additional meeting in late May.
Staff reviewed options to increase San Pedro Ponds recharge (capacity 4,700 AFY but currently less than 500 AFY) limited by nearby septic systems. FY2025 conservation savings were 87,392 AF (near 90% of the 2030 target), but annual gains slowed; staff will update the model/plan via an RFP. Members discussed the need for better data on large commercial/industrial water use (including data centers) to inform future policy discussions.
The Salinas Valley Basin GSA/Arroyo Seco GSA Coordination Committee reviewed FY 2027 fee projections and reserve needs but took no fee vote. Revised fee options are expected before the Salinas Valley Basin GSA board in May, with adoption anticipated in June. Staff is preparing corrective-action amendments to all six subbasin groundwater plans, aiming to make drafts available around September and submit amendments in January 2027.
An unusually dry spring has produced record-low snowpack and Kings River April–July runoff projected at 46–60% of average. FID started irrigation mid-March to avoid spills and expects deliveries through July, prioritizing direct deliveries over recharge. FID reported its own storage bucket is at ~141,000 acre-feet (near max), while Pine Flat Reservoir holds ~832,000 acre-feet out of 1 million. The Board Prepares for Prop 4 SGMA Funding (~$350M Statewide)
