Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Staff reviewed a State Water Board moratorium threat along the Friant-Kern Canal corridor (2–3 mile zone; ~60,000–90,000 acres) and announced an affected-grower meeting for August 28. Staff discussed a proposed shift from ET/consumption accounting to total applied (gross supply) accounting targeted for 2027. Growers receiving State invoices were advised to petition for reconsideration if banked/imported water was reported.
Staff said golden mussel treatments cost about $540,000 to date, with 2026 totals projected at $620k–$640k; no mussels have been found. KNDLA demand management materials described three ramp-down options, and staff urged a coordinated cross-GSA framework. The Regional Board accepted the CV Salts management zone proposal in July 2026; implementation plan due Jan 4, 2027.
Both boards approved keeping existing groundwater minimum thresholds (Alternative 1) rather than raising them, adding an early-warning layer through Local Management Levels set 20 feet below measurable objectives, with staff directed to draft more prescriptive trigger language. The RMS monitoring well network expansion from 17 to 29 wells was approved as a formal GSP amendment. Both boards voted to retain non-dry-year language and provide an offsets explanation to DWR.
Staff relayed DWR concerns that subsidence monitoring triggers are too reactive and urged more continuous monitoring. Auditor Ryan Jolly gave a clean audit for YE 12/31/2020 (agenda listed 2025), citing ~$66.6M net position and ~$20.4M cash/investments and payoff of the 2010 contract. Water update showed ~613 AF carryover and ~900 AF at San Luis; directors said to hold it.
Technical consultants presented analysis showing that historical groundwater pumping in the Modesto Subbasin causes approximately 60,000 acre-feet per year of stream depletions and recommended continuing to use existing groundwater level thresholds (~57 feet) as protective; no board action was taken. The county reported its Board of Supervisors approved a Geosyntec contract to develop the NDE action plan and accounting platform, with launch planned for February 2027.
