Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Staff presented a proposed FY2027 budget of ~$1.282B; rates are lower than last year's projection due to the paused Pacheco Reservoir expansion. Anderson Dam seismic retrofit may be awarded in summer 2026, with capital spending rising. WIFIA timing is uncertain; interim notes were outlined as a bridge. A separate $106M WIFIA loan for Safe Clean Water projects has also been postponed indefinitely. CIP hearing continues to May 12, 2026 for closure; budget adoption is planned for May 12, 2026.
The committee reviewed three groundwater study areas, with individual capital estimates from $32 million for a limited, 18-well Castroville expansion to $1.4 billion. The $951 million brackish project was the strongest studied seawater-intrusion option, but its $3,321-per-acre-foot unit cost raised affordability concerns. Staff plan to bring portfolios May 15; an alliance is independently modeling a possible threshold change. The committee approved corrected April 16 minutes.
Water year 2025 brought the Monterey Subbasin’s first seawater-intrusion undesirable result: chloride exceeded 500 mg/L near Marina Coast wells. The Advisory Committee will review project portfolios for August board consideration; members questioned $4,000–$6,000 per acre-foot, with funding unresolved. Draft GSP amendments are planned for August and 90 days of public review. Both GSA boards will be involved before planned submission after the January 2027 board meeting.
Four GSAs are in early feasibility discussions with SWP/CVP contractors (Southern California agencies being a key example) on a groundwater banking concept to bring new wet-year supplies into the region, with a negotiated leave-behind volume benefiting local growers and SGMA compliance. No decisions were made; multiple stakeholder input opportunities ahead. Return water to partners would primarily use west-side surface water; groundwater recovery is a backstop.
The board held a discussion exploring a per-well fee as an alternative to the previously failed weighted-ballot assessment, but made no decision on a fee structure or legal pathway. Staff was directed to bring back an updated Prop 4 grant-writer RFP by the May meeting; DWR strongly encouraged applying. The demand management ad hoc reported that their consultant has developed a draft decision matrix with stress-level triggers, but key thresholds and water accounting methods stay unresolved.
