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Mid Kings River GSA emphasizes coordination across five GSAs, updates subsidence monitoring and model timeline
Summary
Agency staff reported updated subsidence data through January 2026, described an agreement among five GSAs to submit a single GSP for the Tulare Lake subbasin, and outlined an updated groundwater model schedule and outstanding technical coordination items.
Amir, the GSA manager, updated the Mid Kings River GSA on May 12 about subsidence trends, coordination with neighboring GSAs and next steps on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP).
Amir said the agency had updated subsidence maps through January 2026 and reiterated that subsidence does not stop at GSA borders. He reported that all five GSAs in the Tulare Lake Subbasin agreed to submit a single GSP to demonstrate coordination to the State Water Resources Control Board. “Our mantra moving forward is coordination… 1 plan,” Amir said, adding that items the GSAs still must resolve include native yield values by aquifer, who gets credit for imported surface water, a single well mitigation program and consistent water‑quality plans.
On the groundwater model, Amir said the plan is to update the 2024 flow model to include Kings River flow data and 2023–2025 records; the model was set to be completed by November 2026 and the GSP by 2027. He stressed that numeric limits for subsidence will vary by area and described a districting approach that divides the subbasin into two‑mile squares with local subsidence limits, noting the state’s subsidence BMPs will guide final values.
Directors pressed for clarity on numeric limits and local impacts. One director noted that lake‑bottom subsidence values previously discussed (10 feet at lake bottom, ~6 feet in community areas based on 2020 data) have been reported in media as city‑wide impacts and warned that messaging must be precise to avoid misrepresenting community risk. Staff said proposed numbers will be shared with the board for transparency before public release.
Next steps: staff will meet with state board staff (a meeting was scheduled the next day) to seek feedback on the GSP and subsidence BMPs, update the groundwater model with additional data and return to the board with proposed numeric criteria and mapping for local review before public messaging.
