Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The Water Board proposed a new graduated SGMA fee structure that would lower costs for most small and mid-sized farmers while increasing rates for large users. Key concerns included potential loopholes for large operators to avoid fees, use of budget reserves, and the fairness of layering new fees on top of existing GSA costs.
The board approved a $5.1 million budget with strong reserves, launched a new voluntary well registration program, and addressed key discoveries about well depths affecting subsidence management. They also planned management structure changes and extended the invoice payment deadline for 2025.
The 180/400-Foot Aquifer Subbasin Implementation Committee approved its April 3, April 14 and May 20 minutes. Injecting treated brackish groundwater instead of delivering it modeled slightly better than a medium-scale option; costs are unknown. Without coastal extraction, about 76,000 acre-feet per year of continuous injection could meet the 2040 seawater-intrusion threshold, but no supply was identified. Staff outlined a Salinas River alternatives study.
The Executive Committee approved its April 24 minutes and agreed to advance revised regulatory fee policy and subbasin committee program drafts to the board after further edits. Counsel said the fee proposal consolidates prior provisions without changing fee methodology; staff will revisit basin and subbasin definitions. The committee kept the program’s meeting guidelines. The fee policy could first reach the board in August; the program may follow in August or September.
At its June 5 meeting, the Budget & Finance Committee approved its April minutes and received April financial reports. Staff demonstrated a preliminary FY 2026 parcel fee map using a proposed cropped-acre method; the committee took no fee action. Through April 30, revenue was about $37,000 above budget and spending was 65% of appropriations, though some invoices remained unposted. Members also discussed fee appeals and heard about the rural water-efficiency survey.
