The board voted to hire consultant Zanjero to develop a standardized, basin-wide method for calculating each GSA's net groundwater impact (total pumping minus return flows and recharge). This framework will establish agreed-upon inputs—such as how to treat precipitation, crop evapotranspiration (Open ET), and surface water deliveries—so every GSA is measuring its impact using the same yardstick. The contract covers three years of reporting (2024 baseline, 2025 accounting, and 2026 report) and is funded from existing budget dollars already collected through member assessments, meaning no new fees to GSAs. Growers should pay attention: this process will help GSAs understand and compare net impacts using consistent inputs, and inform future inter-GSA decisions on addressing basin conditions. Individual GSAs will also need to develop demand management programs informed by these numbers.
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