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Mid Kings River GSA approves cost shares for model update and joint Tulare Lake GSP to exit probation
Summary
The Mid Kings River GSA authorized its share of a $196,143 subsidence/model update and agreed to join a single Tulare Lake Subbasin GSP (total ~$1.19 million) to help the basin exit state probation; board approved the expenditures after discussion about protecting local interests.
The Mid Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency on June 9 approved paying its share of technical work to update the Tulare Lake Subbasin hydrologic model and agreed to participate in a consolidated groundwater sustainability plan intended to help the basin exit state probation.
Board members voted to authorize Mid Kings River GSA’s 19.084% share of a $196,143 contract to update the subbasin’s integrated hydrologic model — a Mid Kings cost of $37,431.93 — and separately approved participation in a single-subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) with a total estimated cost of $1,192,204, of which Mid Kings’ share is $227,520.21.
Staff said the model update will include the last three years of hydrology and is needed to address the State Water Resources Control Board’s subsidence analysis requirements. "It will include the last three years worth of hydrology...so that we have the best information to provide to you for the GSP moving forward," staff said.
Why it matters: The state placed the Tulare Lake Subbasin on probation in 2014, and staff argued that presenting a single, unified plan and up-to-date model will improve the basin’s chances of regaining compliance. "Our number one goal is to get out of probation, period," one technical lead said, arguing a unified plan demonstrates the subbasin’s commitment to sustainability.
Board concern and safeguards: Several directors and stakeholders pressed for protections to make sure local stakeholder work already completed is preserved. One board member asked whether the committee’s prior policies and appendices would be incorporated; staff responded that earlier work will be included in appendices and that any substantive differences between GSAs would be noted in the single plan so each GSA’s preferred outcomes remain documented. "All of that is necessary work...it isn't for nothing," staff said of the stakeholder committee’s prior efforts.
Process and next steps: Staff said Tri County Water Authority will hold the contracts and coordinate consultants (Geosyntec and Ludorf & Scalmanini) to speed production of a draft engineer’s report and a final plan. The draft engineer’s report is expected to be provided to the board in July, with a goal to approve the engineer’s final report at the July 28 meeting and hold the Prop 2 18 election process at the September 29 meeting.
Votes and approvals: The board moved and voted to authorize both the hydrologic model update and the GSP participation; the clerk recorded affirmative votes by the directors present.
What’s next: The board will receive the draft engineer’s report and model updates ahead of the July meeting and bring revised allocation numbers and proposed implementation language back to the stakeholder committee and the board for review.
