GSA Members Approve $337,527 Contract for Required 5-Year Periodic Update: The GSA unanimously approved hiring Provost & Pritchard and Intera to complete the mandatory 5-year periodic evaluation due to the state in January 2027. Each member agency will pay approximately $45,000 spread over two fiscal years, with the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency covering 33% of costs. This evaluation is required by SGMA to ensure the basin remains on track for sustainability by 2042.
Major Groundwater Monitoring Wells Nearly Complete: Three of four new monitoring wells funded by a $2 million state grant are complete or finishing construction, filling critical data gaps in the Banning Bench, Banning Canyon, and Beaumont Basin boundary areas. These wells will provide hourly water level data and water quality information that will be publicly available through the USGS system, significantly improving understanding of groundwater conditions across the basin.
Annual Report Receives State Approval: The Department of Water Resources approved the GSA's 2024 annual report without any outstanding issues, confirming that current sustainable management criteria for groundwater levels, water quality, and storage reduction are acceptable and the basin is meeting SGMA requirements.
The Department of Water Resources is funding and will install stream gauges on the San Gorgonio River, with the preferred location on tribal lands requiring coordination with tribal authorities.
Coordination is underway between the San Gorgonio Pass and Indio Sub Basins to reconcile groundwater flow estimates, with current discrepancies showing 21,000 acre-feet annually versus Indio's estimate of 9,000 acre-feet.
The state released draft best management practices for managing land subsidence, with a 60-day public comment period closing September 22nd.
DWR offers facilitation support services including translation, interpretation, and public outreach assistance for GSAs.
Major pipeline projects like the Backbone Pipeline are still in preliminary design and not expected to begin construction within the next five years.
The final monitoring well (P2) is being coordinated with the City of Banning and should be completed by year-end on Ramsey Road.
Water quality testing will be conducted on all new monitoring wells following USGS protocols, with results available to the public.
The next GSA meeting will be held in-person and serve as the kickoff meeting for the 5-year periodic update. A scheduling poll will be sent to determine the best date and time. For questions or comments regarding GSA activities, contact Matt Howard, Operations Manager at San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency. Meeting agendas and materials are posted on the San Gorgonio Pass GSA website at www.sgpgsas.org.
