Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
Board approved a 37-acre recharge pond construction ($150,738) while advancing methodology for subsidence mitigation triggers that would activate demand management. Staff revealed District faces a 30,000-40,000 acre-foot annual overdraft even without external pumping, requiring internal water use reductions regardless of surrounding area actions. Board adopted the 2025 Water Management Plan Update, while delaying a second recharge pond bid pending additional contractor quotes.
The district's oversight has been formally transferred from the State Water Board back to DWR, initiating a 1-2 year review of the 2025 Groundwater Sustainability Plans. S&P maintained the district's bond rating citing strong financials, despite downward pressure across irrigation districts. The initial 2026 State Water Project allocation was set at 10%, higher than the typical 5% start due to wet October-November conditions.
The district is offering free nitrogen and irrigation management consulting to growers in one township through a $1 million USDA grant program. Water quality guidelines successfully protected growers in their second year, with chloride thresholds actively managed and real-time EC monitoring. Golden mussels discovered in the canal system pose an imminent threat to pipeline infrastructure, requiring urgent treatment protocols and regional coordination.
The Kaweah Subbasin successfully avoided state probation after a unanimous State Board vote to return it to DWR oversight, averting an estimated $10–15M in annual state fees. The Board agreed to move forward with the Cameron Creek recharge project despite a $450k–$650k cost gap to be shared by member agencies. With only 79 of 1,542 wells registered (8%), the Board supported a raffle-style flow meter reimbursement incentive through April 1.
The Technical Advisory Committees expressed support for developing a $129,000 groundwater model enhancement and directed consultants to prepare a detailed task order. The update will refresh the basin's model with current land use, evapotranspiration data, and improved boundary conditions to better show regulators that recent projects and land use changes are advancing sustainability, without redoing the approved GSP's historical findings.
