Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
Proud Partners of
A feasibility study found little to no additional wastewater effluent available for new recycled water projects during peak summer demand, with supply growth estimated 10–15 years away. Brown and Caldwell/staff identified near-term system improvements (storage, pumping, pipelines) as the preferred project for the Title 16 feasibility study. Separately, an Amazon data center project was reported, with Amazon funding pipeline and storage expansion that will double current storage capacity.
Two surface-water options to offset pumping were presented: South Vina Extension (~6,970 AFY) and Ridge to Valley (1,500–3,500 AFY), with delivered costs discussed at ~$300–$425/AF vs. $60–$80/AF pumping. Demand reduction work highlighted extended orchard replacement and small-farm precision irrigation. Lindo Channel work suggested ~20–100 AF/day of added recharge when flow occurs.
Draft Forebay/Arroyo Seco Cone fees are expected to be similar to last year, possibly slightly lower. A speaker warned fee-setting may not follow the 2021 coordination agreement, risking liability for both GSAs. Weeks relayed analysis tying modest long-term declines to reduced recharge, not pumping, and noted thresholds might not be reached until about the 2070s. Staff will bring a proposed fee-engagement process next month.
Four priority projects will be submitted to DOC in April 2026: Pastajero, Los Gatos, Westside Cooling Center, and Section 21 Recharge. Overall, projects submitted by the priority deadline requested about $18.7M vs $7.7M available ($7.3M for implementation). Two alternates (Rock & JK Farms, Panoche Creek) will be submitted to DOC in summer 2026. Papa's Project scoring was deferred to a later side meeting.
Groundwater storage gains continued into Water Year 2024-25, though recovery remains uneven with some western boundary wells lagging behind. Subsidence has slowed but one area northwest of Arbuckle has accumulated 0.3 feet since January 2024, warranting ongoing attention. A groundwater demand management program is targeting January of next year, with legal and technical elements under development and discussion planned for the April 10 joint meeting.
