Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
Proud Partners of
Final post-2026 Colorado River final environmental impact statement is expected this week; staff said Metropolitan does not anticipate near-term delivery cuts. State-specific reductions will be determined through subsequent steps, agreements, and discussions with California partners later this year, with completion needed by fall. Separately, the executive performance review process is being refined, with monthly updates through year-end.
Presenter shared Delta smelt science supporting discontinuation of the fall X2 action, saving about 105,000 acre-feet in wet and above-normal years. Staff described three Northern Sierra forest health pilots and said a watershed update would come in August. The subcommittee moved into closed session on Colorado River negotiations and water rights protection.
The board adopted the 2027 groundwater allocation at 0.82 acre-feet per acre with a $500/acre-foot overage penalty, and approved placing $451,650 in unpaid fees on the county tax roll for collection. CDFW advised emergency stream work may start immediately for imminent threats, with notice due within 14 days.
The board approved a supplemental cash call of ~$159,000 split 20 ways (~$7,963 each) to cover items over or not in the original budget (audit, demand management, well mitigation). Demand management policy options—covering native yield, carryover water, transfers, and more—remain under active review, with recommendations to follow. A monitoring-well data gap may require initiating a new well project by year-end if no suitable existing well is found, representing a significant unbudgeted cost.
Director Prieto was elected Board Chair and Director Pacheco as Vice-Chair. Staff reported 8,229 wells registered (4,512 domestic; 2,847 agricultural). Kings River runoff is ~75% of average for 2025–26, with FID deliveries ending August 15 and Pine Flat Reservoir at ~355,000 AF, dropping ~9,000 AF/day. The August 27 board meeting was canceled, with a special meeting planned for September 3 where a well-registration enforcement policy may be considered.
