Mid Kings River GSA approves 45‑day public comment period for draft groundwater allocation policy

The Mid Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency board voted to release a draft groundwater allocation policy for public comment, directing staff to begin a 45‑day comment period starting the next day.

Amir (GSA staff) introduced the proposed allocation policy as ‘‘a start,’’ saying the policy is intended to implement a demand‑side management program included as a management action in the groundwater sustainability plan. He said the draft defines the basin sustainable yield to include native recharge, canal and river losses, and any imported recharge or landowner‑developed credits.

Staff selected a conservative Tulare Lake subbasin sustainable yield of 350,000 acre‑feet and allocated a Mid Kings River GSA share using two dry years (2021–22), estimating the GSA’s share at roughly 36 percent, or about 126,000 acre‑feet. The draft assigns a sustainable yield rate of 1.43 acre‑feet per acre annually for eligible parcels, with a separate transitional allocation (initially 1.0 af/acre) that declines to 0.3 af/acre and reaches zero by water year 2040–41. Unused sustainable yield may be carried forward subject to a five‑year rolling retirement; transitional water is not tradable and cannot be carried forward.

The draft also requires parcel and well registration; parcels of 5 acres or larger (or combined parcels under common ownership) are eligible for a sustainable‑yield allocation, while smaller parcels receive a de minimis allocation of 2 acre‑feet per acre. The policy allows trading of sustainable yield within the Mid Kings River GSA and limited transfers for contiguous farm units across GSA or subbasin boundaries with metering, reporting and approval by affected GSAs, subject to rules staff said are intended to prevent excessive net outflows from the GSA.

Staff proposed a combined annual use cap of 3 acre‑feet per acre that includes sustainable yield, transitional allocations and any recharge credits; accounting tools will track monthly usage and the default order of use (carryover sustainable yield first, then current sustainable yield, credits, transitional allocation, then overdraft). The draft includes civil penalties consistent with the Water Code and SGMA; staff also proposed that any over‑pumpage be deducted from the following year’s allocation.

After public comments and board discussion on timing and outreach, Supervisor Joe Neves moved and Supervisor Rusty Robinson seconded opening a 45‑day comment period starting tomorrow. The clerk recorded a roll call with four votes in favor and two members absent; the board approved release of the draft. Staff said they will conduct outreach (email, flyers, social media), hold at least two workshops (one in person, one virtual), collect comments, convene the stakeholder committee to review them, then return a revised final draft to the board for approval.

"This is a start," the presenter said, framing the draft as flexible and subject to change based on public input and committee review.