Top 3 Key Takeaways:

1. Regional Water Banking Project Proposal Approved

The board approved spending up to $199,200 to evaluate a regional groundwater banking project with Stantec engineering. This project would allow state water contractors to store excess water in the Greater Kaweah area during wet years and extract it during dry periods, potentially bringing significant funding and water resources to the region.

2. 2025 Water Year Allocations Reduced

Due to updated groundwater modeling and overdraft calculations, tier one allocations will decrease from 0.62 to 0.54 acre-feet per acre, and tier two allocations will drop from 0.31 to 0.31 acre-feet per acre. The total overdraft volume was corrected from an initially overstated 161,000 acre-feet to 124,600 acre-feet.

3. Unpaid Groundwater Fees Collection Process Moving Forward

Approximately $565,000 in unpaid fees from 95 accounts dating back to 2023 remains outstanding. The board will set a public hearing next month to begin lien processes against non-compliant properties, though staff emphasized they're working with landowners who contact them to arrange payment plans.

Additional Key Takeaways:

• Office relocation to 227 North West Street is on schedule, with August meetings planned at the new facility
• 24 domestic wells have been identified by Self Help Enterprises for potential mitigation due to overdraft impacts
• State Water Resources Control Board found the GSA's groundwater sustainability plan complete with no red flags
• Well registration will be mandatory per existing GSA rules and regulations, with implementation timeline being finalized
• Water quality monitoring continues at 58 out of 72 wells due to access issues at 14 locations
• Multiple implementation core teams are working on various aspects including subsidence monitoring, interconnected surface waters, and small well communities
• Mitigation well costs are approximately $4,000 per well, with efforts underway to streamline the process

How to Engage:

For questions or comments, contact the Greater Kaweah GSA office or attend the next board meeting scheduled for August 11, 2025, at the new facility located at 227 North West Street. The Technical Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for August 21, 2025, at 1:30 PM.