Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
The Multi-Benefit Land Repurposing Program received $18.7 million in project applications but only has $7.3 million in implementation funding plus $400,000 for project development and permitting. All funded projects must be completed by December 31, 2026. Lands enrolled in MLRP will not receive groundwater allocation, helping preserve groundwater in the basin.
The board unanimously directed staff to pursue a Proposition 26 funding approach for the FY 2026-27 budget after the prior Prop 218 assessment failed, which would allow fees to be set annually without a landowner protest process. The agency is targeting a bare-bones compliance budget, and staff was directed to develop informal mechanisms such as public workshops for regular stakeholder feedback.
The Sites Reservoir project's ~$3B reservoir package faces potential delays after major labor unions raised concerns about PLA negotiations, with the Sites board seeking significant progress within about 30 days. California's Water Plan update under SB 72 targets 9 million acre-feet in new supply by 2040 across 138 watersheds. The Kern Fan Project was reclassified as conjunctive use and received $5.6M in early funding, both approved unanimously.
The meeting clarified that the GSA maintains $25,000 in its account while its project funding resides with the Water District, which transfers money monthly for approved expenses. Staff emphasized the April 1, 2026 metering compliance deadline, with Mailing #4 going out the next day and a County rebate available through June 30, 2026. The draft 2025 Annual Report showed localized groundwater declines after a dry year with only 8 inches of rainfall.
The Board voted 3-2 to direct its president to cast the district's LAFCO vote for Jonathan Ahmadi as special district representative. The Board also entered closed session for the General Manager's performance evaluation and to consider goals for the position. The consent calendar, including the January 2026 check register and two sets of minutes, was approved unanimously.
