Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Water allocation remains at 20% after a dry March and low snowpack; staff is pushing for a potential 5–9% increase but there is no guarantee. A supplemental water program covering ~203,000 acres is active at an estimated $775–$800/AF, with late applications still accepted. Groundwater data shows uplift from low pumping, though neighboring subsidence may be encroaching.
San Gorgonio Pass Subbasin saw a second year of positive groundwater storage change (~4,000 AF). Directors questioned future supply amid potential growth (Director Gracia referenced ~30,000 homes). Staff reported $9.7M in grants/partnerships since 2020. Draft six-level shortage plan presented; adoption set for June 2, 2026. Board approved SSMP 2026 update.
The board approved returning **$48.4M in surplus fuel and purchased power collections** as summer bill credits (~12% reduction). It also approved the 2026 Summer Savings Initiative, expanding efficiency programs including a new Time-of-Use incentive and school HVAC funding. Staff projected Lake Mead could drop ~20 feet despite record conservation efforts.
The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously denied exclusion requests from eight GSAs in the Sub-basin from probationary reporting and fees. Staff cited subsidence risks, water budget gaps, weak mitigation programs, and poor coordination. An 11-GSA working group pledged a unified GSP by early–mid 2027, modeled after other sub-basins. The Board supported the effort, committed staff resources, and voted 5–0 to adopt staff’s recommendation.
Groundwater monitoring showed deep aquifer declines and seawater intrusion concerns; supply projects including IPR and aquifer storage were discussed as potential responses. The board received the 2025 Monterey Subbasin Annual GSP Report and reviewed the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget, including a new water allocation fee to charge jurisdictions for allocation management.
