The board approved its first GSP periodic evaluation, including added context for declining water use. Staff reported that DWR has set aside $3.5 million in Prop 4 funding for small GSAs; grant guidelines remain in development. Fiscal 2025–26 extractions totaled 3,133 acre-feet versus 3,125 budgeted, with revenue within $1,500 of projections. The board also approved the 2027 meeting schedule and INTERA’s annual-report work order.
Pumping projections are down 25–70% from the GSP, and monitoring shows groundwater levels above objectives and thresholds. The Board approved extraction fees for the next two semiannual billing periods and opened a 45-day public comment period on the draft GSP periodic evaluation. City of Ventura staff discussed possible future fixed cost-sharing if Ventura pumping declines.
The board approved the FY 2026-27 budget and scheduled a June public hearing for the proposed $170/acre-foot groundwater extraction fee. Optional Well C was removed from the long-term projection, dropping projected fees to roughly $65/acre-foot in years three through five. Well B was shifted out one year in the budget after the property owner revoked site access.
Basin conditions remain strong with groundwater levels recovered to pre-drought elevations and sustainability criteria met for WY2025. Extraction fees are increasingly burdening agricultural users, who now pay about three-quarters of costs based on pumping levels, and staff may bring a Prop 218/extraction-fee policy discussion at a future meeting (potentially April). Staff also canceled planned water budget modeling, reducing future consulting costs.
The board agreed to target a December 18th GSP evaluation workshop to follow the regular meeting, based on ongoing work with historical model data and shallow groundwater monitoring results. A coalition agreement with other small GSAs was restructured from an MOU to a simpler cost-sharing arrangement to avoid creating a new public agency subject to additional regulations. Groundwater extraction fee invoicing for the January–June 2025 period is underway, with invoices sent in September.
