Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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Golden mussel larvae were found in Diamond Valley Lake; they do not affect drinking water safety, and controls are underway. Metropolitan is assessing risks after an El Niño emergency declaration and plans a November update. Ortega appointed Mark Gold chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Colorado River Negotiations. The committee approved election procedures and Marty Miller as a board chair candidate, and deferred further action on two final ethics findings pending any FPPC action.
The board denied a late 2026 allocation request tied to Spice World/Valley Garlic after debate over Land IQ versus Provost & Pritchard verification. Staff and consultants discussed shifting from the 90:10 approach to a county-acreage/APN method and limiting allocations to the GSAs proportionate share of basin native yield. A Sept. 30 special meeting in Coalinga is planned for a GSP public hearing and possible adoption.
Metropolitan staff warned that planned annual Colorado River reductions of 1.25 million acre-feet in 2027 and 2028 may not prevent dead pool if dry conditions persist. Staff called for Metropolitan to join negotiations, while directors discussed a possible basin-wide water leadership council. The subcommittee approved its August 25 minutes. No action was taken on the communications report or closed-session item.
The board approved ending the irrigation season on October 16, with a three-day will-call extension through October 19 for growers who missed the final run. A recovery agreement was approved for the Canyon Tunnel project to add specialized ground-support engineering, with up to one million dollars contributed by the district. Staff updated the board on a municipal services review with San Joaquin LAFCO tied to pending annexations.
The Turlock Irrigation District board adopted the 2026 wildfire plan and authorized up to $125 million in bonds to refund 2016 debt; meeting-day estimated present-value savings were $7.47 million. Directors reviewed a roughly $120 million 2027 capital plan without adopting it. Staff proposed $1.3 million for irrigation modernization, with the next lateral choice pending review of the Ceres Main TCC pilot. Budget adoption is targeted for November 24.
