VINA GSA board approves new two-part fee structure for groundwater management

The Wyandotte Creek Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) held a regular meeting on March 20, 2025, where significant discussions centered around the newly approved fee structure for groundwater management in the Vina Subbasin. The GSA board has drafted a two-part fee report aimed at ensuring sustainable water management and compliance with state regulations.

The first part of the fee is a uniform parcel fee that applies to all usable land within the Vina Subbasin, regardless of the type of water use. This fee is designed to cover essential governance and operational costs for the GSA, including administrative expenses and compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The second part of the fee focuses on monitoring and reporting requirements, which are crucial for maintaining groundwater sustainability.

Under this new structure, agricultural users, who account for 90% of groundwater consumption, will bear the majority of the costs associated with the second part of the fee, which is based on cropped acreage. In contrast, municipal and domestic users will contribute a smaller portion. Notably, rangeland stakeholders will only be responsible for the first part of the fee, which has been met with some approval, although there remains a desire among these stakeholders to minimize their financial obligations.

The GSA plans to further discuss this fee structure in future meetings, particularly to address any concerns raised by rangeland stakeholders once the fee is officially implemented. The board's decision reflects a commitment to balancing the financial responsibilities of different water users while ensuring compliance with state mandates for sustainable groundwater management.