Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Land subsidence was found to be minimal based on InSAR data; Todd Groundwater reported DWR said no changes to subsidence criteria are needed until a 2032 reevaluation. Analysis concluded that temporarily lowering groundwater levels to interim milestones is unlikely to significantly affect groundwater dependent ecosystems near the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers. The county reported it is finalizing a third-party contract for the Non-District East action plan, targeting July 14 board approval.
Zanjero presented a groundwater consumption methodology using OpenET minus effective precipitation and surface water deliveries, with methodology lock-in aimed for August. Effective precipitation proposes a single basin-wide average from four CIMIS stations. The Board unanimously approved Woodard & Curran's scope to respond to DWR comments; funding options are expected to return at a future meeting.
Board members discussed frustrations with the GSA interim plan process and expected more clarity at a joint meeting next week. Financials through June 30 were presented and a motion and second to approve were made. An assessment rate of 1.41 was discussed; several budget/revenue figures were garbled. They noted timing limits and a new assessment could take about a year to implement. Board members raised concerns about consultant spending and facilitated meetings yielding little value.
Water deliveries are near full capacity with almost 4,000 acre-feet scheduled for July, and a final 10,400 acre-feet transfer to Lower Tule will occur in July. Golden mussels were discussed; speakers said they have not been detected this far north yet, but staff noted uncertainty. Staff said the district agreed to a Nov. 1 canal shutoff date and expects to be on the new canal when deliveries resume at the end of January.
Water season may end late July; directors discussed running storage out vs. carrying it over, with a preference voiced to run it out. A ~$10 per-acre assessment increase was floated to fund faster recharge expansion; the 2027 budget public hearing was continued to July 22. Groundwater fell ~2.1 ft last year; El Niño was mentioned as a factor adding urgency to recharge planning.
