Catch up on the latest GSA board meeting recaps anytime—at home, on the road, or on your tractor.
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The board approved extending irrigation water deliveries through October 2025 beyond the typical water year end, providing valued flexibility for growers. Water rate increase proposals were approved for public hearings across five improvement districts, with rates that have been unchanged since 2016-2017. The district's investment portfolio continues strong performance at 4.3% returns, contributing to solid financial health amid ongoing operational improvements.
The irrigation district remains in difficult labor talks with the union for 26 employees after the contract expired, with workers warning of major pay and benefit cuts while the board kept its responses in closed session. Directors approved raising staff authority to approve tunnel project change orders up to $350,000 to speed construction adjustments. A recent town hall helped ease tensions with residents by addressing tunnel concerns directly, and the board also heard updates on grant...
The groundwater agency is facing a severe financial crisis while voting to pay their share of emergency funding to keep the joint powers authority operational through January. Board members are seriously considering withdrawing from the JPA due to governance issues, particularly the voting structure that allows other agencies to commit them to expenses without their consent. Operations have been scaled back to essential functions only, with expensive consulting contracts suspended until a...
The board discussed a draft groundwater allocation framework requiring a 14% reduction in pumping by 2026, with the district benefiting from legal exemptions that allow recovery of approximately 30,000 acre feet annually due to their surface water imports. A well mitigation program will launch in January 2026 at an initial cost of $300,000 split among member agencies to assist domestic well owners affected by groundwater management activities. The framework must be submitted by January 2026.
The board approved a new executive services agreement with the Tulare Irrigation District to handle day-to-day operations while retaining policy authority. A $45,000 groundwater banking feasibility study was authorized to explore storing water in stable areas for delivery to subsiding regions. The first annual water quality testing of 1,300 wells revealed some contamination exceedances and highlighted challenges with sampling dedicated monitoring wells due to water stagnation issues.
