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 unified Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the entire Tule Subbasin, seen as the clearest path out of the State Water Board's probationary process, with cost estimates returning in May. A $15,000 contribution to a subbasin-wide domestic well mitigation reserve fund was also approved. Water supply remains strong, with a 100% Class One allocation currently in place and over 1,600 acre-feet of carryover providing a buffer against any potential reduction.
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.
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.
