Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Staff projected a ~1.0 AF/acre allocation and plans to announce it in late April. The board denied 5 of 6 unused-allocation charge waiver requests, signaling stricter enforcement going forward. The board approved an MA-2 penalty waiver agreement for a grower tied to 53 acres of orchard removal and a 110 AF credit transfer to reach a zero cumulative balance by end of 2027.
Resolution ST GSA 26-03 was adopted by roll call vote, finalizing civil penalties for 2025 water budget exceedances (up to $500/AF) with a $1,000 delinquency penalty for non-payment within 45 days. The Board approved a draft landowner recharge policy governing landowner-built recharge facilities, with an implementing agreement to be drafted by counsel; landowners are credited 80% of recharged water at the non-contract rate while the district retains 20%.
Delta-Mendota was unanimously returned to DWR after staff concluded probation wasn’t warranted, while flagging remaining items for future updates. Small pumpers (≤20 AF/yr) were excluded from State probationary reporting/fees in Tule and Tulare Lake; Tulare Lake’s exclusion was amended to bar exporters. Snowpack was reported at 18%; SWP allocation at 30%. March set a new CA temp record by 3.5°F and was the driest March on record.
The committee recommended refinements to the Domestic Well Mitigation Program so the $35K cap can cover all reasonable costs needed to restore service. Growers questioned whether the $59/acre fee should change given limited spending so far. 2025 penalties billed: $1.1M (Madera) and ~$650K (Chowchilla); funds are designated for domestic well mitigation. The committee recommended adopting the Chowchilla GDM backstop report.
Staff proposed an 8% ag groundwater charge increase to $46.50/AF for FY 2026-27 and reviewed the Open Space Credit ($217M/10 years). The committee discussed the proposal and approved amending the work plan to add a goal to identify preferred percolation regions with Valley Water and landowners. Staff outlined four South County recharge projects under evaluation and said there is no immediate rush.
