Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
Proud Partners of
The groundwater use fee true-up process is advancing, with invoices expected in February 2026 and preliminary data showing the area is only 2,000 acre-feet above the 10% reduction target. Agricultural recharge projects delivered 6,100 acre-feet in the last water year, and a new technical assistance program for multi-benefit land repurposing is launching with workshops planned in January and February.
Lake Millerton is well above flood control targets, and staff indicated a Class 2 allocation in the low single digits is likely this winter to reduce storage. The Board asked staff to begin separating GSA-related financial tracking around January 1 to clarify actual GSA costs and funding needs. The CEQA review for the Southeast Service Area Lateral Project runs through December 18, with a special public hearing planned after that.
The Board discussed Tulare ID's stronger SGMA position, noting it is now **out of probation** and working with **DWR**, which puts it ahead of some neighboring areas. Members raised concerns about a $10,000 County Farm Bureau contribution to a legal defense fund tied to a roughly $2 million case, and staff stressed the need to coordinate on pumping allocations. The Board then went into closed session.
The Board adopted a $17 million operating budget for 2026 with a 7% rate increase, facing projected operational losses due to reduced Tri-Dam revenue. Draft groundwater management programs were reviewed, including a well mitigation program and allocation reductions up to 65% in some areas, with formal GSA adoption targeted for January 2026. All employee groups received a 1.6% CPI-based COLA effective January 9, 2026.
The Board approved a major raw water charge increase for wholesale city customers (effective 2027), reflecting deferred rate adjustments since 2005 and actual system costs. An emergency $480,700 repair project was authorized for critical Drain 11 infrastructure serving South Manteca. Additionally, a temporary agreement allows the City of Manteca to discharge stormwater through district facilities until August 2026, addressing stormwater capacity concerns in southwest development areas.
