Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—on the road, on your tractor, or at home.
The Fifth District Court of Appeal ruled to resume state enforcement in the Tulare Lake Subbasin after a 16-month legal pause, requiring farmers to report pumping data by May 1, 2026, and pay fees of $20 per acre-foot plus $300 per well annually. The court's "good actor clause" victory creates a pathway for compliant agencies to potentially avoid basin-wide probationary status. Here is everything you need to know.
The board approved moving forward with consolidating Pine Grove Community Services District's water system, converting approximately 400 wholesale connections to retail customers to address Pine Grove's $250,000 operating deficit. The agency received a three-notch credit rating upgrade from Standard & Poor's, improving from BBB negative to A minus, which reflects improved financial stability. Staff will prepare consolidation agreements and return with action items, while the transition ...
The groundwater basin maintains strong storage at 74.5% capacity despite minimal rainfall this year, holding approximately 60,000 acre-feet of water. The board approved $314,000 in required state compliance costs, including $225,000 for a mandatory sustainability plan evaluation and $89,000 for new monitoring wells, funded through current extraction fees. Directors are considering joining a legislative advocacy coalition for $6,000 annually that recently secured $15 million in state ...
Board reviewed potential governance changes to address quorum challenges, including allowing staff alternates or proxy voting when elected officials cannot attend meetings. Multiple grant-funded projects are making progress, including monitoring well construction, aquifer storage pilots, and recharge studies on fallow vineyard lands. A comprehensive five-year evaluation of Groundwater Sustainability Plan is due to the state by January 2027 to assess progress toward sustainability goals.
A water district representative highlighted the critical water affordability crisis, comparing potential service disruptions to Detroit's 2014 crisis where 90% of customers faced interruptions, emphasizing that affordable water should cost around $34 monthly without forcing families to sacrifice basic needs. The agency continues operating under a four-week federal government shutdown that's impacting essential services and funding. Additionally, staff reported productive progress on the ...
