Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
The board formed a committee to expedite development of a groundwater banking policy for landowner-funded recharge facilities, responding to urgency from stakeholders ready to invest private capital. The district reported retiring nearly 19,000 acres and reducing demand by over 54,000 acre-feet since 2017, though supplemental water acquisition remains below targets. All monitoring wells showed groundwater elevations above minimum thresholds, demonstrating SGMA compliance.
The Board approved the 2026 budget with no increases to water rates or assessments, maintaining strong reserves while planning for future canal repair costs. The District is aggressively recharging available Class 2 water, including renting pumps at Dresser, to move water before potential allocation changes. Gold mussels in nearby Friant facilities prompted intensified monitoring and review of copper treatment options in coordination with other agencies.
TAC recommended two task orders totaling $206,400 to revise subsidence management criteria and update the groundwater model for more accurate basin management. Groundwater storage declined by 40,000 acre-feet in water year 2025 as pumping increased to 393,000 acre-feet during drier conditions. Current subsidence standards risk triggering non-compliance despite minimal actual subsidence, prompting the approved criteria revision.
The board approved increasing on-farm recharge payments from $40 to $50 per acre-foot to encourage water spreading before the February deadline. Staff presented plans for a $1 million golden mussel treatment program using copper-based products, expected to require board approval at a special meeting before implementation in mid-February. Director Giumarra was elected as new board president, replacing Director Camp after nearly 13 years.
Preliminary data indicate the agency is below its 2025 groundwater reduction target, at about 149,000 acre-feet of consumptive use versus a 163,795 acre-foot target, after preliminary adjustments for cover cropping, fallowing, and surface water. A new surface water credit split policy was reviewed and staff will refine it and bring a draft to the Board. The committee reviewed 14 incentivized fallowing applications and discussed a conservative first-year funding level.
