Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
True-up invoices will be mailed around March 10, giving growers 45 days to pay or request appeals or modifications. Groundwater levels are generally improving with no interim milestone exceedances, and the basin remains on its glide path toward sustainability. The board approved incentivized fallowing on about 3,448 acres at $370 per acre, targeting over 7,500 acre-feet in pumping reductions.
Board approved a $50,000 purchase order for well metering endpoints and authorized staff to develop administrative interpretations of technical requirements, with formal policy revisions planned for the March 11 meeting. Only 16 of approximately 250 wells have submitted registration paperwork ahead of March 31 deadline, prompting a March 12 assistance open house. Board also asked for a future agenda item to discuss testing requirements for agricultural well backflow prevention devices.
Water rates for the next three water years were approved, with agricultural rates decreasing 14% and M&I rates dropping about 37% in the first year. Due to ongoing issues at Hollister's reclamation plant, temporary rules now allow blue valve water delivery through the recycled system, with those users second priority. Staff outlined a conservative 2026 allocation framework, likely around 35% for ag and a full 5,000 AF for M&I, pending CVP decisions.
Groundwater levels remain healthy despite a dry year, with total basin pumping near sustainable yield. The board expressed consensus to explore adding a voting agricultural director by reallocating two conservation district votes and directed staff to draft potential JPA amendments for future member agency consideration. Recent heavy rains and a spilling reservoir signal strong aquifer recharge heading into 2026.
Baffle walls at Pumping Plant 2B were removed after causing flow restrictions, with potential vortexing at higher flows still under evaluation. A public workshop is scheduled for March 18 to present alternatives for the CVC Pool 1 expansion project. A golden mussel task force has been established, with a CVC-specific subcommittee formed to evaluate copper-based and other treatment options.
