Tule Denials, Spring Fee Hearings, and $500K More to the Mussel Fight — Apr 27, 2026

The State Water Resources Control Board voted 5-0 to deny all eight Tule Sub-basin GSA exclusion requests, citing water-budget gaps over 50 percent of total diversions, subsidence risks, and weak well-mitigation programs. In response, eleven of thirteen GSAs committed to developing a single unified GSP. DWR's April 1 snow survey came in at the second-lowest on record (only 2015 was lower), and the Kings River Water Association is now forecasting April-July runoff at just 46-60 percent of average. A wave of spring fee hearings is hitting calendars — Paso Robles' $22.28-per-acre-foot fee report, San Benito County's projected $0.60-per-acre groundwater management fee, Santa Clara Valley's South County production charge increases, and Diablo Water District's previously-noticed Prop 218 ceiling — all with action coming in May or June. Plus a $500,000 emergency response to golden mussels in the Cross Valley Canal.Read the full recaps at gsa.waterone.ai | Try Chat GSA for instant answers about your district---AI can make mistakes. Check important info.WaterOne.ai (Mizu Analytics, Inc.) strives to provide timely, accurate, and reliable coverage of water, agriculture, and related issues. However, no guarantee is made as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. All content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, or professional advice. Users are solely responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided, and WaterOne disclaims all liability for errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use of this site. The opinions expressed are those of the authors.