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Informing and Engaging Stakeholders in the Kings and Tulare Lake Subbasins
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December 2019 - In This Issue
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TULARE LAKE SUBBASIN UPDATES
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Kings Subbasin's seven Groundwater Sustainability Agencies adopt groundwater plans ahead of State deadline
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Left to right: Matt Hurley,
McMullin Area GSA
; Ronnie Samuelian,
Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group
; Karnig Kazarian,
South Kings GSA
; Gary Serrato,
North Kings GSA
; Scott Sills,
North Fork Kings GSA
; Chad Wegley,
Kings River East GSA
; Steve Stadler,
James GSA
; Phil Desatoff,
Central Kings GSA
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In a move that signals momentous coordination and progress, the Kings Subbasin is one of the first multi-Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) basins in the State to adopt all GSPs and an accompanying Coordination Agreement. The Coordination Agreement, a document outlining cooperative practices for the GSAs, is required by the State for subbasins with multiple GSPs. The finalized Groundwater Sustainability Plans and Coordination Agreement will be packaged and submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) ahead of the January 31, 2020 deadline.
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Kings Subbasin GSP Schedule
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- North Fork Kings - After Two Years of Development, Groundwater Plan Adopted; Implementation Begins in 2020
- McMullin Area - A New Era in Groundwater Management Begins
- North Kings - Board of Directors Unanimously Adopts Groundwater Sustainability Plan in Compliance with SGMA
- Central Kings - Board approves including revisions to Groundwater Sustainability Plan in response to public comments
- Kings River East - Workshops held to brief public on Groundwater Sustainability Plan content and strategy moving forward
- James - James GSA launches new website
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Left to right: Supervisor Mendes,
County of Fresno
; Frank Zonneveld,
Laguna Irrigation District
; Danielle Roberts,
Lanare CSD
; Mark McKean,
Crescent Canal Co.
; Stephen Maddox,
Liberty Mill Race Co.
; Leonard Acquistapace,
Riverdale Irrigation District
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The North Fork Kings GSA (NFKGSA) Board unanimously adopted their Groundwater Sustainability Plan at the December 18 Board meeting. NFKGSA's Board is proposing a phased approach over 20 years to mitigate the target overdraft of 59,000 acre feet per year, NFKGSA's allocation of the Kings Subbasin total annual overdraft of 122,000 acre feet.
Board Chair Mark McKean thanked the plan developer Provost & Pritchard, staff and the Board for all of their work over the last two years. "
This Plan is a living document,
" stated McKean. "
We realize it isn't a perfect document but a building block and in five years we will have a better Plan than we have today by working together.
"
Comments received on the GSP are available for download online:
GSP comments
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Left to right: Matt Hurley,
General Manager
; Supervisor Brian Pacheco,
County of Fresno
; Matt Abercrombie,
Landowner
; Don Cameron,
Raisin City Water District
; Jeevan Singh,
Mid-Valley Water District
; Jerry Rai,
Raisin City Water District
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A new era in the sustainable management of groundwater in a portion of Fresno County for the next 20 years and beyond was initiated by the McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency (MAGSA) Board of Directors with the unanimous adoption of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) at their November 6 meeting.
"This action by the Board represents two years of focused effort by MAGSA's Board, technical consultants, and stakeholders to develop a plan that gives our landowners tools and flexibility they need to effectively manage their groundwater use," stated Board Chair Don Cameron. "MAGSA has taken a critical first step to secure the future of opportunity and economic viability for the landowners in the region."
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Minor edits to draft GSP approved for final plan
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Revisions on the draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) will be included in the final version submitted to the State. Some edits and clarifications were made in response to public comment on the draft GSP, while others relate to subbasin figures not available when the draft was released. The final GSP version will include updated figure numbers, language to recognize "Environmental Benefits" to projects, clarification about entities that have taken flood water, and changes to language for consistency across the Kings Subbasin, among additional minor edits.
Download the adopted GSP version
here.
The finalized GSP will be available on the agencies website as soon as available.
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The North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NKGSA) approved and adopted an ambitious and long-term Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), to address groundwater sustainability within the NKGSA boundary. The GSP’s adoption occurred at the NKGSA’s special Board meeting and public hearing on Thursday, November 21, 2019. The Board’s decision to adopt the GSP came after hearing a presentation from staff on recommended changes to the draft GSP resulting from a written public comment period that lasted 60 days, ending on October 18, 2019, and comments provided from stakeholders during the public hearing portion of the meeting.
NKGSA is only the second GSA in the Kings Subbasin to have its GSP completed and adopted in anticipation of the submittal deadline specified in SGMA of January 31, 2020, to the Department of Water Resources (DWR).
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Board approves minor changes to Groundwater Sustainability Plan in response to public comments
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The NKGSA Advisory Committee recommended the Board adopt the GSP with revisions, and include comments received up to the November 21 Public Hearing in the final GSP document. The Board unanimously approved to adopt the GSP at its November 21 special Board Meeting.
Roughly a dozen of the total 150 comments received on the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency's draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) resulted in revisions. Revisions include an additional analysis on impacts to domestic wells at the agency's groundwater level minimum thresholds and measurable objectives, replacement of about 7-8 water quality monitoring wells after removing inactive and abandoned wells, among additional minor clarifying responses.
The draft GSP as well as comments received are available for download on NKGSA's website:
here
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Central Kings GSA Board approves including revisions to Groundwater Sustainability Plan in response to public comments
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Following a review of recommended changes to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) by the Central Kings GSA's technical consultant, the Board unanimously approved incorporating the changes as well as the GSA's comment responses into the finalized GSP. Changes approved include reducing the maximum annual land subsidence rate from 6" per year to 3" per year, adding an analysis of groundwater level impacts to domestic wells in the communities of Caruthers, Monmouth, Bowles, and Tombstone, as well as updates to tables with subbasin figures not available at the time of initial draft completion.
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Kings River East GSA conducts workshops to brief public on Groundwater Sustainability Plan content and strategy moving forward
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The Kings River East GSA held two outreach events during the public comment period for its Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). Stakeholders in the agency's service area were briefed on the Plan's contents. The agency's Administrator, Chad Wegley, laid out the strategy for sustainability moving forward: take advantage of every drop.
Capturing surface water for groundwater recharge is a priority for balancing the estimated 19,200 acre feet of current annual overdraft occurring within the Kings River East GSA. A member agency of the Kings River East GSA, the Alta Irrigation District plans to continue its operations strategy of enhanced floodwater utilization. Since 2017, an estimated 110,000 acre feet of additional supply will have been captured within the service area thanks to additional surface water capture during flood releases.
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James GSA launches new website
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The James Groundwater Sustainability Agency launched a new website in September ahead of Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) review and adoption. The GSP document was made available on the site for public review. Visit
jamesgsa.org
to read about the agency, download the draft GSP, and access SGMA resources.
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TULARE LAKE SUBBASIN UPDATES
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Tulare Lake Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) held a Public Hearing on December 2nd to hear verbal comments on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). After considering comments received, the five Tulare Lake GSAs are expected to adopt the GSP at their January board meetings.
The subbasin submitted an application for a
CA Department of Water Resources (DWR)
SGMA grant, requesting a $500,000 award to split among the five Tulare Lake Subbasin GSAs. If awarded, an estimated $250,000 would be allocated to the development of sustainability projects. The subbasin is competing for a share of the total $50 million available through the DWR grant.
In this issue
- South Fork Kings - South Fork Kings reviews comments received on the Tulare Lake Groundwater Sustainability Plan
- Mid-Kings River - Mid-Kings River will consider GSP adoption at January meeting
- Southwest Kings - Technical consultants receive direction to develop well metering policy
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South Fork Kings reviews comments received on the Tulare Lake Groundwater Sustainability Plan; will consider GSP adoption in January
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At the December 19 Board Meeting, technical consultants reviewed the comments received on the Tulare Lake Groundwater Sustainability Plan. The Tulare Lake GSP received comments from eight authors, seven written and one verbal. Comments directly relating to the South Fork Kings GSA generally pertain to Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems and impact to agriculture in the instance of groundwater demand reduction. South Fork Kings GSA technical consultants reiterated demand reduction and any land retirement is a last resort within the agencies service area.
The South Fork Kings GSA will consider adopting the Tulare Lake Groundwater Sustainability Plan at its January 16 meeting.
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Mid-Kings River will consider GSP adoption at January meeting
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The Mid-Kings River GSA will consider adoption of the Tulare Lake Groundwater Sustainability Plan in January 2020. The Board meets the second Tuesday of every month at 1:00 pm.
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Technical consultants receive direction to develop well metering policy
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In an effort to increase groundwater data accuracy, the Southwest Kings GSA Board provided technical consultants direction to develop a metering policy and implementation plan. The policy and plan will outline well metering specifications, including meter type and calibration, for wells located within the agency. Minimal groundwater pumping occurs within the agency, home to an estimated dozen wells.
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Agency will consider Groundwater Sustainability Plan adoption in January
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The Southwest Kings GSA will consider adopting the Tulare Lake Groundwater Sustainability Plan at a special meeting scheduled for January 17, 2020 at 9:00 AM. Once adopted, the final GSP document will be available for download on the agency's website.
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Board appoints representatives for Reclamation District 761 and white area
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The Southwest Kings GSA unanimously approved to swear in Jim Wilson as a Board director representing Reclamation District 761. Steve Jackson was reappointed by the Board as director representing the white area. "White area" constitutes land not located within the boundaries of an irrigation or water district.
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SGMA Workshops,
Department of Water Resources (DWR) and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) SGMA workshops
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) are hosting educational workshops to discuss GSP evaluation and assessment process, DWR and SWRCB interaction during GSP evaluation, annual reporting requirements, and DWR and SWRCB assistance programs.
January 8, 2020, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Paso Robles City Hall - Council Chambers
1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA
January 9, 2020, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Clovis Veterans Memorial District - Veterans Room
808 4th St., Clovis, CA 93612
Kings Subbasin Groundwater Discussion,
Self-Help Enterprises and Kings River Conservation District
The third and final Kings Subbasin community groundwater discussion will take place in February to discuss coordination between the seven Kings Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), and each GSA's strategy for the first 1-2 years of Groundwater Sustainability Plan implementation.
Exact date, time and location are TBA.
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For additional SGMA information, visit the links below:
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Kings River Region SGMA Updates is produced by KRCD's External Affairs staff.
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Kings River Conservation District | (59) 237-5567 | 4886 E Jensen Ave, Fresno, CA 93725 KRCD.org
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