Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The Board set the 2026 ET-based Sustainable Yield allocation at 1.01 acre-feet per acre as an announcement and approved two consultant contracts totaling about $51,000 for subbasin hydrogeologic and coordination services. The subbasin remains on probation with the State Water Board, exclusion requests are under review with no specific timeline for a decision, and local coordination meetings are being planned.
The Board approved a contract extension for administrative services through 2027 and adopted a legislative policy platform. Staff provided updates on the Russian River Watershed Resilience Plan, a state pilot due in April 2026 that will guide future climate funding applications. Multiple conservation pilots are showing promising results.
The Board elected new leadership with Steve Jackson as Chair after three new Cuyama Basin Water District directors joined. A geophysical study showed the Santa Barbara Canyon fault is a complex zone with multiple faults tied to large groundwater elevation differences. The Board approved having the FY 2026‑27 budget process consider a $160,000–$280,000 Ventucopa model recalibration after staff outlined current model limitations.
The Board approved a $5.64 million contract to replace aging water storage tanks in Wallace and Arnold areas, with new tanks offering 50+ year lifespans. Staff outlined ongoing water loss reduction work and said they will bring a comprehensive report in the near future, after data cleanup and staffing constraints are addressed. The district received awards in all three insurance categories for maintaining exceptional safety and loss prevention records.
The Board approved a 2026 groundwater service charge of $200 per acre-foot, up from $175, to help offset State Water Project costs. Staff reported a significant decline in water deliveries to 130,000 acre-feet in 2025, well below past patterns and the 10-year average of 141,000 acre-feet, raising concerns about land use changes and groundwater use. Golden mussels have been found in the 850 Canal and related pipelines, prompting collaboration with Kern County Water Agency on treatment ...
