Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

In 2014 the State of California adopted historic legislation, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires groundwater basins to be sustainably managed by 2040.

SGMA required that high and medium priority groundwater basins form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) by June 2017 and develop Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) to sustainably manage groundwater. North Kern Water Storage District (NKWSD) participated as a member of the Kern Groundwater Authority (KGA) GSA and eventually became an individual GSA in 2022 (the NKWSD GSA). Additionally, NKWSD GSA executed a Memorandum of Understanding with three other neighboring water districts to enhance regional coordination that included the City of Shafter and City of Wasco.

Multiple GSPs have been submitted by GSAs in the Kern County Groundwater Subbasin (Subbasin) since January 2020 and were determined to be incomplete or inadequate by DWR (2020 GSPs, 2022 GSPs). The “Inadequate Determination” by DWR triggered state intervention under Chapter 11 of the SGMA and on March 28, 2023, DWR provided notice to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) of its determination. Ultimately, in response to the potential of probationary designation by the SWRCB, each of the Subbasin GSAs and other participating entities engaged in direct coordination that included an unprecedented level of Subbasin coordination. The GSAs developed new coordinated Subbasin GSPs and submitted them on May 28, 2024. After a preliminary cursory review of the 2024 Draft GSPs, the SWRCB remained focused on the adopted 2022 GSPs, contending that the 2024 Draft GSPs still had significant deficiencies and the SWRCB Staff issued a Draft Staff Report recommending probation and set the hearing for February 20, 2025.

The Kern Subbasin GSAs have been committed to working with and meeting with SWRCB Staff to address noted concerns with the Subbasin GSPs and notified the SWRCB Staff of the Subbasin’s intent to amend and formally adopt the 2024 GSPs by mid-December. The NKWSD GSA scheduled a hearing on December 13, 2024, to formally consider adopting the amended 2024 Kern Subbasin GSP. The most recent information regarding the GSPs, outreach, notices and other related documents can be found below:

GSPs:

Determination and Notices:

Outreach and Engagement:

Kern Subbasin GSP Press Release:

Other SGMA Links:

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