Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Presenter shared Delta smelt science supporting discontinuation of the fall X2 action, saving about 105,000 acre-feet in wet and above-normal years. Staff described three Northern Sierra forest health pilots and said a watershed update would come in August. The subcommittee moved into closed session on Colorado River negotiations and water rights protection.
The board adopted the 2027 groundwater allocation at 0.82 acre-feet per acre with a $500/acre-foot overage penalty, and approved placing $451,650 in unpaid fees on the county tax roll for collection. CDFW advised emergency stream work may start immediately for imminent threats, with notice due within 14 days.
The board approved a supplemental cash call of ~$159,000 split 20 ways (~$7,963 each) to cover items over or not in the original budget (audit, demand management, well mitigation). Demand management policy options—covering native yield, carryover water, transfers, and more—remain under active review, with recommendations to follow. A monitoring-well data gap may require initiating a new well project by year-end if no suitable existing well is found, representing a significant unbudgeted cost.
Director Prieto was elected Board Chair and Director Pacheco as Vice-Chair. Staff reported 8,229 wells registered (4,512 domestic; 2,847 agricultural). Kings River runoff is ~75% of average for 2025–26, with FID deliveries ending August 15 and Pine Flat Reservoir at ~355,000 AF, dropping ~9,000 AF/day. The August 27 board meeting was canceled, with a special meeting planned for September 3 where a well-registration enforcement policy may be considered.
The board approved a new water supply agreement with Western Hills Water District, including transfer of 4,791 acre-feet of banked water to KCWA and canceling an 8,000 acre-foot legacy obligation. A golden mussel emergency declaration was continued, with a public forum set for August 5 at Bakersfield College. The board also adopted reduced zone of benefit assessments of approximately $30 million for FY 2026-27, down from the ~$50 million maximum authorized.
