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.
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
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.