GSP Amendment and Periodic Evaluation Timeline is Aggressive – What’s happening: The agency must submit a periodic evaluation and possibly an amended Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) by January 2027. Why it matters: Laura Foglia from the consulting team noted that while that deadline looks distant, it’s actually tight—major decisions are needed nearly every month through 2026. With a summer 2026 release target, less than a year remains to incorporate key amendments and fully address DWR’s recommended corrective actions.
Major Changes Coming to Groundwater Level Monitoring and Thresholds – What’s happening: Staff recommended raising or redefining minimum thresholds, which they admitted are currently “really just too low.” Why it matters: The changes would create distinct shallow and deep aquifer monitoring networks, with shallow networks dedicated to tracking interconnected surface water. This directly affects how groundwater sustainability is measured and managed, especially across ag areas that depend on reliable supply.
Domestic Well Monitoring Program Moving Forward Despite Budget Constraints – What’s happening: Community response to the domestic well monitoring program was strong, but funding limits it to 8 wells initially. Well-drilling projects also faced inflation-driven cost overruns. Why it matters: Even with financial strain, the agency will still complete the original plan of 9 shallow wells and 1 multi-completion well by 2026. This preserves the backbone of long-term monitoring, while near-term community participation fills urgent data gaps.
Interconnected Surface Water Will See Biggest Changes - The consultant identified interconnected surface water as likely requiring the most significant amendments to the GSP, with new monitoring networks near rivers and creeks and refined criteria based on updated modeling.
Extended Orchard Fallowing Program Shifted to Case Study Approach - Originally planned as cash incentives to farmers, DWR rejected this approach, so the program will now develop 10 case studies of extended fallowing periods to demonstrate potential water savings of 4,000-8,000 acre-feet per year.
Tax Incentives Already Available for Fallowed Orchards - Farmers following orchards can seek property reassessment for lower taxes and won't pay the Part 2 GSA fee ($4.22 per acre in 2025) on unfropped acres, though the agency lacks capacity to pursue additional county tax incentives.
Water Quality Monitoring Will Focus on Coordination with Other Agencies - The GSA will switch focus from specific conductance to electrical conductivity measurements and emphasize coordination with regional boards and Environmental Health for contamination plume tracking rather than direct regulatory oversight.
Subsidence Monitoring Moving to Satellite Data - The agency will incorporate DWR's INSAR satellite data (available from June 2015 to October 2024) for land subsidence monitoring, which consultants described as an "easy fix" that most basins are adopting.
Sustainable Yield Calculations Will Be Updated - The consultant recommended updating sustainable yield estimates using the revised Butte Basin groundwater model and considering different timeframes than the original 2000-2018 period used in the current GSP.
Board Meeting Time Changed - GSA board meetings will now start at 3:30 PM instead of 5:30 PM, beginning with the September 10th meeting.
How to Engage: Farmers can provide input by attending GSA board meetings (next meeting September 10th at 3:30 PM) or SHAC meetings (next meeting September 24th). Contact GSA Program Manager Dillon McGregor via the VINA GSA website contact form or follow updates on Facebook and Instagram @VinaGroundwaterSustainabilityAgency. The agency is actively seeking agricultural input as major GSP amendments are developed over the next year.
