Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The public draft 2026 Water Availability Analysis, released for a 60-day comment period through May 26, 2026, proposes raising the Tier 1 groundwater use criterion on the Napa Valley floor from 0.3 to 0.5 acre-feet per acre for new and replacement wells. The Water Year 2025 Annual Report reported undesirable results for both groundwater storage and interconnected surface water. The draft WAA also introduces new Tier 3 protective standards for wells within 1,500 feet of significant streams.
The district reported it can maintain a **no-prorate condition through February 2027** even if Class 1 allocations drop to 90–80%. March deliveries to growers were approximately **7,100 acre-feet** — about **200% of normal** — driven by heat and dry conditions. The south-of-delta federal allocation rose from **15% to 20%**; San Luis Reservoir federal share storage has peaked with roughly **200,000 acre-feet** of capacity remaining, expected to draw down as agricultural demand increases.
Due to unusual conditions—full storage but a below-average runoff forecast—staff outlined a possible split run: 2–3 weeks in April on limited systems, then potentially off most of May, then a late May/June restart into July. The Board approved operating Apex recovery wells during the restart, estimated ~4,200 acre-feet over ~60 days. Staff are also preparing groundwater pumping reports due before the May 1 State Board deadline for certain district wells.
March 2026 had zero precipitation — the driest in 104 years — leaving Southern Sierra snowpack near 25% of the April 1 average. Staff modeled a 65% April–July runoff scenario and warned late-summer entitlements could be very small. FID storage is in the upper 130,000 acre-foot range with supply projected through July. Grower meetings are scheduled April 22, 23, and 29 to discuss the season outlook.
State regulators appear to be moving ahead with probation fees; staff discussed an estimate of ~$2.3M for Pixley if charged $20/AF on ~118,000 AF of estimated extractions, with a hearing on April 21; Growers are urged to comment. Kaweah/Tule Water Banking Investigation Shows Promise; staff discussed starting allocation talks in June/July aiming for a September decision. The board unanimously approved joining a subbasin-wide effort to consolidate into one Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
