Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Water deliveries are near full capacity with almost 4,000 acre-feet scheduled for July, and a final 10,400 acre-feet transfer to Lower Tule will occur in July. Golden mussels were discussed; speakers said they have not been detected this far north yet, but staff noted uncertainty. Staff said the district agreed to a Nov. 1 canal shutoff date and expects to be on the new canal when deliveries resume at the end of January.
Water season may end late July; directors discussed running storage out vs. carrying it over, with a preference voiced to run it out. A ~$10 per-acre assessment increase was floated to fund faster recharge expansion; the 2027 budget public hearing was continued to July 22. Groundwater fell ~2.1 ft last year; El Niño was mentioned as a factor adding urgency to recharge planning.
Staff reported submitting accounting to support treating wellfield pumping as recovered stored surface water vs groundwater, potentially affecting future State Board billing. A July 16 State Board meeting is upcoming. The Board voted to set the 2027 assessment at $267.27/acre and tabled the Tule Basin Water Quality Coalition appointment.
The board discussed golden mussel treatment options, landing on a month-to-month reassessment approach. Friant Class One allocation remains at 100% (~1.12 AF/acre) with no further changes expected. Forecasters report El Niño is developing unusually early, which could disrupt fall canal dewatering and mussel treatment timing.
The district is running ~20,000 acre-feet underrun after submitting a revised water order, with ~95% of DIP contracts executed and 65,000 acres enrolled. The on-farm efficiency program is nearly complete for 2025, with 2026 contracts rolling out soon. The FLOW grant deadline was extended to end of July 2026 to allow local agencies more time for board consideration.
