Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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State regulators appear to be moving ahead with probation fees; staff discussed an estimate of ~$2.3M for Pixley if charged $20/AF on ~118,000 AF of estimated extractions, with a hearing on April 21; Growers are urged to comment. Kaweah/Tule Water Banking Investigation Shows Promise; staff discussed starting allocation talks in June/July aiming for a September decision. The board unanimously approved joining a subbasin-wide effort to consolidate into one Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
Groundwater levels rose ~3 feet and storage increased ~44,000 acre-feet in Water Year 2025; staff reported groundwater levels, quality (specific conductivity), and subsidence criteria showed no exceedances. May–Aug 2026 are key months for domestic well mitigation/registry discussion, minimum thresholds, and interconnected surface water. Draft periodic evaluation/updates targeted by late summer; adoption by year-end. RFP in progress.
MAGSA has initiated a Proposition 218 election seeking landowner approval for a $32.85/acre assessment to fund a flood capture expansion project; ballots will be mailed by April 17 and a public hearing is set for June 3. No recharge credits will be issued until a formal allocation is established around 2030, though all activity is being tracked. The WaterSMART meter grant ends September 30, 2026, with a 90-day minimum processing time — landowners should submit outstanding materials.
The board approved committing to participate in a multi-GSA GSP effort consolidating ~13 GSAs in the Tule subbasin, and approved $198,300 toward a domestic well mitigation reserve fund. State staff recommended denying the Tule subbasin exclusion request; the hearing is April 21. A revised delinquent fee collection policy was also approved.
Staff presented a proposed 9.1% groundwater production charge increase for North County in FY 2026-27, with agricultural rate projections lower than last year due to the Pacheco Reservoir expansion suspension. Consultants estimated roughly 37,000 households (6%) face unaffordable water bills. The Commission requested a proposal to evaluate increasing assistance funding for the Water Rate Assistance Program (RAP), currently funded at $1 million per year...
