Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Groundwater levels are recovering from drought conditions but remain below sea level in most monitoring areas, raising seawater intrusion concerns. The board approved a $33,363 consultant contract to complete the required 2025 annual sustainability report while key staff is on leave. A temporary assistant operations manager position was also approved to facilitate knowledge transfer before the current manager's retirement in July 2026, ensuring operational continuity.
The district implemented billing corrections for a recent rate increase error that overcharged customers $9 for water and $15 for sewer, with credits to be applied to next bills. The board is considering splitting from a regional groundwater sustainability agency to form a county-specific entity for better local governance. Major infrastructure challenges continue from ongoing PG&E power line undergrounding projects, with over 20 crews generating approximately 200 utility service alerts...
The district achieved approximately 200,000 acre-feet in additional water supply benefits this year due to federal policy changes that shifted from strict minimization approaches to population-level impact assessments. Current Central Valley Project allocations stand at 55% with reservoirs above historic averages, suggesting next year's allocations could range from 15-65% depending on conditions. Groundwater management efforts are showing strong results with rising groundwater levels and...
The board rejected a $162,545 invoice for erosion repair costs, citing lack of communication and insufficient evidence that their dam caused the damage. Despite high costs, they approved a four-year audit contract for up to $50,000 to complete overdue financial reviews. A $250,000 stream gauge installation project is nearing completion, which will provide improved flow measurements and public data access.
The board discussed a demand management framework that provides a foundation for potential future water use restrictions but doesn't activate any programs immediately, serving as a planning tool requiring extensive additional work. A feasibility study for using excess Salinas River flows revealed major obstacles including limited seasonal availability, expensive storage needs, and complex permitting taking 4-6 years. Additionally, an updated seawater intrusion model was approved...
