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 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.
The board discussed two penalty options for over-pumping violations to be voted on at the next meeting, and reviewed a draft five-year budget supporting a Prop 218 process to raise groundwater extraction fees to a ceiling of ~$50/acre-foot. Staff reported that all 2026 allocation confirmations were received by the April 15 deadline, with unclaimed acres redistributed to participating landowners.
The board approved policies and procedures for solar interconnection to a planned 500kV transmission line, targeting an application window starting mid-June 2026 with intake and validation through the summer. The board also directed staff to prioritize larger solar projects in the interconnection queue to minimize transmission infrastructure on district land, with engineering cluster study results expected by January 2027.
Financial reports showed $123.8M in cash and investments, with strong Tri-Dam revenues. Lobbying updates flagged concerns with AB 2026 groundwater recharge language; partners including SJTA are opposed unless amended.
Groundwater levels have recovered 3–5 feet compared to last spring, with the sustainability plan turnaround arriving two years ahead of schedule. Watershed precipitation is 89.5% of average to date (slightly below), though an uneven, thunderstorm-driven May and approaching seasonal dry-down warrant attention. Don Pedro's end-of-season outlook improved by nearly 10 feet under dry conditions to around 774 feet, with wet-condition projections sitting under flood control levels by season's end.
