Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
The Board elected new leadership with Steve Jackson as Chair after three new Cuyama Basin Water District directors joined. A geophysical study showed the Santa Barbara Canyon fault is a complex zone with multiple faults tied to large groundwater elevation differences. The Board approved having the FY 2026‑27 budget process consider a $160,000–$280,000 Ventucopa model recalibration after staff outlined current model limitations.
The Board approved a $5.64 million contract to replace aging water storage tanks in Wallace and Arnold areas, with new tanks offering 50+ year lifespans. Staff outlined ongoing water loss reduction work and said they will bring a comprehensive report in the near future, after data cleanup and staffing constraints are addressed. The district received awards in all three insurance categories for maintaining exceptional safety and loss prevention records.
The Board approved a 2026 groundwater service charge of $200 per acre-foot, up from $175, to help offset State Water Project costs. Staff reported a significant decline in water deliveries to 130,000 acre-feet in 2025, well below past patterns and the 10-year average of 141,000 acre-feet, raising concerns about land use changes and groundwater use. Golden mussels have been found in the 850 Canal and related pipelines, prompting collaboration with Kern County Water Agency on treatment ...
The board approved paying Terra Bella’s 2.9% (~$21,676) share of Thomas Harder’s sub-basin hydrogeologic services. A severe ground squirrel infestation threatening livestock was reported, and the board agreed to jointly explore control options, including bait station permits. The district described a shift to simplified groundwater management with no transfers or complex accounting systems.
The Board approved hiring a municipal financial advisor to help plan financing for up to 1,000 acres of new recharge basins, estimated at about $60 million in capital costs. Staff reported the reverse land auction program to buy basin sites closes January 30th with limited submissions so far. A draft subbasin framework estimates CID’s native safe yield at 1.6 acre-feet per acre, the highest in the Kings Basin.
