Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
The Board approved proceeding with the 2027 Groundwater Sustainability Plan Periodic Evaluation without a formal amendment, deferring major updates to 2032. Five priority projects were approved for the Hungry Hollow Groundwater Focus Area to address a 6,000 acre-foot annual deficit, with three already under implementation. The agency is advancing a Proposition 26 regulatory fee structure, with key decisions scheduled for February 2026.
The Committee ratified a $1.6 million FY2026 budget but deferred consultant contract approvals until February to allow full review. Joint Powers Authority formation awaits one final GSA signature before a special meeting can establish the new entity. Staff highlighted data quality concerns in the Pumping Reduction Plan process and stressed the need for better QA/QC before data submission.
The board ratified a water purchase agreement for 600 acre-feet of imported CVP water at $250 per acre-foot for groundwater recharge through the Kaweah River system and approved a stock lease for 24 shares to supply a new 12-acre recharge basin expected to deliver about 60 acre-feet annually. The board also discussed, but did not approve, a potential credit retirement concept at a $150 per acre-foot price point.
The committee received the annual conservation report showing $1.7 billion invested and 8.88 million acre-feet of water conserved or developed since program inception. The enhanced turf replacement program has seen applications surge nearly tenfold to 2 million square feet monthly, though incentives will likely decrease as grant funding commits. Staff presented a new one-year alfalfa early retirement pilot for up to 5,000 acres in Palo Verde Valley.
The committee voted 4-1 to recommend deferring any Venticopa management area allocation decision until the next basin-wide model update in 2028, citing new fault data and current model limits. A fault study showed multiple faults and 600+ foot water level differences. The committee discussed staff’s proposed three-part process to track and address potential problem areas outside the Central Management Area.
