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 approved joining a single sub-basin-wide Groundwater Sustainability Plan and a unified well mitigation fund (~$5,000 share). A State Water Board exclusion request hearing is next Tuesday at 9 a.m.; growers are urged to attend. Staff flagged water budget discrepancies with the state's analysis, and a follow-up call is scheduled to reconcile the numbers.
Groundwater storage declined in 2025, with some monitoring wells and subsidence points moving closer to thresholds — and with surface water allocations projected low, groundwater will again carry the primary burden. Well registration outreach continues as the subbasin moves toward a mandatory process. An overdraft management framework is being developed and is expected for board discussion at the May 12 meeting.
Consultants presented a proposed subsidence approach using land-sinking rates rather than groundwater level thresholds; they plan to discuss a final Sustainable Management Criteria and revised undesirable results definition in May. Well impact and GDE analyses were presented to address DWR corrective actions. The TACs approved minutes, ratified letters of support, approved Optional Task Order 8 ($50,400), and voted to recommend the FY26–27 budget for Board review.
Groundwater use fee invoices went to 337 accounts; staff reported 11–12 checks received and no formal appeals submitted. Staff proposed extending several self-reporting deadlines from 30 to 60 days, clarified recharge credits apply the year after recharge, and said staff's position is no pre-2025 recharge credits (requests may be appealed). Draft FY 2026/2027 budget is ~$196k lower; TAC requested clearer work-product justification.
A copper-based treatment achieved near-complete golden mussel eradication at an initial cost of ~$2.75M, with a maintenance program costing about $1.79M annually (product estimate) under review. Staff reported no water pro-rate is needed this year even under two consecutive dry-year scenarios, with the direct recharge reserve bank at ~325,000 AF (projected ~260,000 after this year). Friant Class 1 allocation may drop from 100% to ~90–95% following early runoff and below-average snowpack.
