Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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A data correction issue with water usage calculations resulted in higher-than-expected charges for Quarter 3, which will be corrected in upcoming invoices. The Board will consider a hardship case for a residential well user facing financial difficulties with unpaid groundwater extraction fees. Landowners have until September 30th to submit all required forms for the 2025 water year, including pre-purchase allocations and exemption applications.
The board unanimously approved a major overhaul of 40-year-old underground storage tank regulations, modernizing rules with 27 amendments and extending compliance deadlines to January 2027. A statewide water supply modeling program is rapidly expanding to 18 watersheds, building sophisticated drought management tools based on successful Russian River work. Environmental groups are pushing for more time to comment on the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan update, arguing the current...
The region is preparing to transition from water authority management to independent operations by March 2026, requiring new administrative systems and a finalized Joint Powers Agreement. Three northern monitoring wells exceeded water quality thresholds and require investigation, while data quality issues were identified with incorrect historical records. Staff developed a task matrix to clarify consultant and agency responsibilities for groundwater sustainability program implementation.
Board delayed a management area allocation decision until January 2026, pending additional fault investigation, after staff identified material data gaps. A proposed water market policy was sent back for revisions due to unanimous opposition from Advisory Committee and concerns about stakeholder engagement. They also explored options for basin-wide groundwater management outside currently regulated areas, considering hybrid approaches that could include new management zones.
The Madera County GSA will reduce water allocations from 27.1 to 25.2 inches in 2026 (a 1.9-inch drop), marking the transition from 2% to 6% annual reductions through 2040 as planned in the GSP, with allocation charts extending to 2040 approved. Based on survey results showing 52% preference for Hydrosat over 23% for LandIQ, staff will negotiate a 3-year contract with Hydrosat only to reduce costs, eliminating the current dual measurement system while some growers voice concerns about reliability. A proposed farm unit policy for distributing carryover credits was delayed for further review after grower concerns, while three accounting platform demos will be conducted before selection.
