The North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) is a Joint Powers Authority formed in December 2016 through adoption of a Joint Powers Agreement by the following public agencies: Fresno Irrigation District, the County of Fresno, the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis, the City of Kerman, Biola Community Services District, Garfield Water District, and International Water District. Following adoption, these founding members approved membership of Bakman Water Company and the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District through separate binding agreements.
The North Kings GSA’s jurisdiction includes a portion of the Kings Subbasin (DWR Bulletin 118) that includes the service areas of member agencies consistent with requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014. The roles and responsibilities of member agencies are discussed in the North Kings GSA Joint Powers Agreement.
Signed into law in 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) provides a framework for local governments and water agencies to manage groundwater resources through the formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies. The North Kings GSA is authorized under SGMA to develop, adopt, and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the sustainable management of groundwater in a portion of the Kings Subbasin. It is one of over 250 newly formed agencies in California formed and tasked with achieving balanced groundwater supply by 2040. The North Kings GSA is one of seven GSAs in the Kings Subbasin.
On September 16, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a three-bill legislative package collectively known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). For the first time, California has a framework for sustainable groundwater management through the formation of local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies tasked with implementing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
The North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency forms as a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to implement SGMA.
A local agency or agencies in each high- or medium-priority groundwater subbasin must have officially formed one or more Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to cover the entire subbasin. The North Kings GSA formed ahead of the deadline on December 7, 2016.
Development and implementation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan is a requirement of SGMA. The State law requires all high- or medium-priority and critically overdrafted subbasin GSAs to develop and submit a GSP to the California Department of Water Resources for review by January 31, 2020.
All high- or medium-priority and critically overdrafted subbasins must develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) and submit to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for review. A GSP is a roadmap for how a subbasin will avoid the adverse effects of groundwater overdraft and achieve balanced levels of groundwater to reach sustainability.
The North Kings GSA together with the six other GSAs in the Kings Subbasin submitted the first Annual Report to the California Department of Water Resources. The Annual Report serves to inform and update both the State and stakeholders in the Kings Subbasin on groundwater conditions and sustainability progress. Annual Reports are due to the State on April 1 of every year.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) must evaluate and issue an assessment of a GSP within two years of submission by a GSA in medium- or high-priority and critically overdrafted subbasin. DWR may include recommendations for addressing any deficiencies in the GSP.
North Kings GSA submitted its revised Groundwater Sustainability Plan, which was posted for a 60 day public comment period. Revisions addressed groundwater decline, land subsidence, water quality considerations, and the need for additional interconnected surface water data.
North Kings GSA and the six other Kings Subbasin GSAs received state approval for their revised Groundwater Sustainability Plans. Approval allows them to continue local implementation, address corrective actions, and coordinate next steps with DWR.
Landowners were asked to register their wells to help fill state identified data gaps ahead of the 2025 GSP update. The information supported required groundwater studies, remained confidential, and ensured domestic well owners could qualify for the upcoming mitigation program. Registration applied to all wells within the service area.
A Dry Well Relief Program offers temporary water services and financial assistance to households affected by dry wells impacted by declining groundwater levels. The program fulfilled state mitigation requirements and followed a shared framework across the Kings Subbasin.
The Board approved an updated groundwater Plan to meet state requirements and keep local management on track. Kings Subbasin GSAs revised their plans to address state identified issues, and a five-year periodic evaluation was submitted to show progress, challenges, and next steps for meeting sustainability goals.
After low participation during the voluntary well registration phase, the Board voted to require all landowners to register their wells by November 30, 2025 (deadline extended to Jan. 30, 2026). Mandatory registration ensures the groundwater data needed for state required studies and helps maintain local control of groundwater management.
The North Kings GSA must achieve the groundwater sustainability by 2040. Coordination between the North Kings GSA and the six other Kings Subbasin GSAs is ongoing to achieve the collective goals of sustainability on behalf of landowners and stakeholders.
A Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) must include measurable objectives and milestones in increments of five years to achieve sustainability within 20 years of GSP adoption by a GSA. In high- or medium-priority and critically overdrafted subbasins, sustainability must be achieved by 2040.
View a full SGMA timeline, including dates for low-priority basins here.
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