Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
The Board approved major substation projects in the Coachella Valley, using innovative funding partnerships with cities, counties, and developers who will reserve capacity for 20 years. The district maintained its AA- bond rating, securing favorable financing terms at 3.84% interest on about $107 million in bonds. New infrastructure models provide flexibility to the development community while addressing rising electrical capacity demands in the region.
TID staff presented a Power Supply Adjustment shift from a 0.2 to a 0.3 cent charge per kilowatt‑hour effective with the December control month, driven by lower retail load and reduced hydro generation requiring more purchased power. The 2025 irrigation season delivered 479,270 acre‑feet with record‑high water orders and online ordering surpassing phone requests. A strong early‑season water outlook shows precipitation 150% of average, with soil moisture and snowpack above last year.
District is completing installation of three stream gauges under a $250,000 state grant, with data expected to be publicly available by fall 2026. Sloughhouse RCD is considering withdrawing from the South American Sub-Basin GSA due to $10,000 annual and $24,000 GSP cost shares. Municipal Service Review required for district expansion is progressing through LAFCO, with the board approving an additional $8,000 for engineering work on boundary adjustments and legal descriptions.
Colorado River basin negotiations stalled past the November deadline, with the Upper Basin refusing to provide counterproposals while current positions would reduce Lake Mead to near dead pool levels and keep Lake Powell above power pool. This impasse threatens water delivery reliability as 2007 guidelines expire in 2026 with no replacement in sight. Despite these challenges, October operations remained strong with over 1,100 water orders processed and substantial maintenance completed.
District is experiencing strong supply for 2025-26, with CVP allocation rising to 55% and Northern California reservoirs performing above forecasts due to 88% above-average early-season precipitation. Water rates were reduced by approximately $12.95 per acre-foot, reflecting both the improved allocation and mid-year budget cuts. The invasive golden mussel has been detected in the distribution system, prompting the district to develop management strategies and provide guidance to growers.
