Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
The Groundwater Sustainability Agency is finalizing an allocation policy that would assign 0.66 acre-feet per acre for properties 5 acres and larger, with transitional pumping allowances stepping down through 2040. Subsidence remains a major concern and could trigger pumping restrictions before groundwater level thresholds are reached, especially given the basin’s limited monitoring equipment. Well registration has reached about 66% of parcels, with continued outreach underway and domestic...
The Kern County Subbasin avoided state intervention after its 20 groundwater sustainability agencies made substantial improvements to their management plans, including enhanced monitoring, robust dry well mitigation programs offering up to $90,000 per well, and more protective water quality thresholds. The basin has already achieved 31% of its planned demand reduction and added 2.75 million acre-feet of groundwater storage, demonstrating significant progress toward sustainability.
The board approved over $273,000 in consultant agreements to conduct a comprehensive rate setting process for FY 2025-26, establishing an ad hoc committee to oversee community engagement efforts. The College Lake water treatment facility is now operational and producing water but faces turbidity issues requiring ongoing adjustments, with some customers experiencing filter clogging from polymer residue. Additionally, the board authorized $100,000 for vegetation management at College Lake...
The Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Plan's final approval has been delayed until November due to pending state feedback, with project applications due December 1st for priority consideration. Despite outreach efforts, no new projects have been submitted to date, prompting plans for enhanced community engagement including virtual meetings and networking events. All funded projects must be completed by December 2026 to meet current grant requirements.
The San Joaquin Valley's unified water plan is advancing rapidly, with initial chapters under review and a critical water supply gap of 2.5-3 million acre-feet identified by 2040 due to SGMA compliance, climate change, and environmental requirements. The team is rapidly expanding partnerships to shape a unifying voice for valley water interests. Comments on the plan's first chapters are due October 6th, with the full administrative draft expected by year-end.
