Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The groundwater management agencies hired EKI as their new primary consultant to replace the previous firm and help with annual reports and implementation, with extensive data requests currently being compiled. Self Help Enterprises was contracted to implement the well mitigation program for failing domestic wells, using five-year forgivable loans with 40% of replacement wells typically requiring water quality treatment. Fall water level measurements scheduled for early November will...
MKGSA will have a December 2nd hearing where state staff recommends returning basin management to DWR oversight. The board approved a comprehensive well registration program with a three-phase approach targeting completion by June 2026, starting with voluntary registration and intensive outreach. The agency also approved its first well mitigation project for a dry domestic well, with costs up to $57,450 and specific conditions requiring equipment analysis and video inspection.
Board is expected to appoint Shivaji Deshmukh as the new General Manager, with strong public support for his leadership experience. Public commenters urged prioritizing the Pure Water Southern California project over the Delta Conveyance Project, citing lack of state support and the need for reliable local water sources. Despite recent rainfall and early Sierra snowfall, the agency maintains record storage levels sufficient to cover another low rainfall year.
Board approved 3 eminent domain resolutions to acquire properties for Coyote Creek flood protection project, which aims to prevent flooding like the February 2017 event. Officials received an update on closing out the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project after spending approximately $100 million, with $76 million going to consultants alone. Staff also presented an overview of how water infrastructure projects are identified and prioritized through master plans and asset management programs.
Committee approved a draft policy for an incentivized fallowing program that will pay farmers $730 per acre annually for 3 consecutive years to voluntarily fallow fields, with applications accepted November-December for 2026 implementation. Staff recommended rescinding a priority action area designation for monitoring well ETSGSA-08 after discovering calculation errors. 47% of groundwater accounting platform accounts remaining unclaimed, which represents only 26% of total acres.
