Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
Board approved a scope of work to develop a demand management framework for the Arroyo Seco area, amid technical findings of weak correlation between pumping and water levels that raise questions about how effective demand management would be locally. Equity concerns were also raised about funding programs aimed mainly at seawater intrusion issues in the northern valley.
The district is awaiting a State Water Resources Control Board decision on their exclusionary request within 60-90 days, with a May 1st deadline. A new daily ET monitoring tool from LandIQ and water trading platform were implemented, allowing growers to buy and sell water credits between GSAs with a 10,000 acre-feet annual cap. Updated subsidence data shows 39% improvement in rates post-SGMA implementation, demonstrating progress in groundwater management.
The pumping limit policy is now active as of January 1, 2026, with tiered pricing at $35 per acre-foot for usage between 100-125% of allocation and $70 above 125%. The bypass turnout construction project remains on schedule for a February 20th completion with about $1 million in grant funding used to date. Well meter registration achieved around 90-95% compliance, positioning the district well for effective groundwater monitoring.
Staff briefed State Board members on subsidence management and water reductions but received no clear signal on probation exclusion, though they expect to be back before the Board soon. A new daily ET tool is planned for March via a separate portal with data back to October, and a pilot with six growers comparing metered use to ET beginning around March will inform future allocation decisions.
The board's proposed Division 9 pressurized irrigation rate increase was rejected after property owners filed a majority protest. Directors approved a $218,360 budget increase for the pipeline relining program, which is exceeding efficiency expectations at 0.65 man-hours per linear foot. The board also authorized decommissioning a 1,000-foot unused pipeline serving a federal property for an estimated $125,000.
