The board approved a $30,000 cap per eligible domestic well mitigation claim, excluding replacement-water costs, despite concerns about higher well costs. Self Help Enterprises outlined potential services; no contract was approved, and staff will return with costs and other available options. The board also adopted a stakeholder engagement framework, approved up to $2,500 annually for online meeting posts, and authorized access agreements for two ARPA-funded monitoring wells.
The board approved technical memoranda responding to DWRs clarification request on the GSP Amendment and 2025 Periodic Evaluation, with an October 1 submission deadline. Staff said a demand management MOU is being developed for GSA board consideration by the end of 2026, with programs discussed as developed in 2027 and implemented in 2028. The board also approved an updated effective precipitation methodology for annual groundwater accounting.
The board approved a one-time 25% increase in member dues to fund consultant work responding to DWR questions on the GSP update and periodic evaluation, with responses due Oct. 1. The board also approved an updated domestic well mitigation program, opening a six-month claims window for post-2015 well failures backed by a $200,000 fund.
Zanjero presented a groundwater consumption methodology using OpenET minus effective precipitation and surface water deliveries, with methodology lock-in aimed for August. Effective precipitation proposes a single basin-wide average from four CIMIS stations. The Board unanimously approved Woodard & Curran's scope to respond to DWR comments; funding options are expected to return at a future meeting.
Groundwater monitoring found two southern basin wells below minimum thresholds in fall 2024, with eight more declining in the operational range. Basin storage fell 84,000 acre-feet (0.2%). The Authority is developing a groundwater accounting framework with GSA cluster meetings underway to compile surface water and pumping data.
