Groundwater Sustainability Plan
Introduction
The Kings Subbasin is located in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley with the majority of surface water being supplied from the Kings and San Joaquin Rivers. The North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NKGSA) is one of seven GSAs in the Kings Subbasin (DWR Bulletin 118). Through its various surface water resources and several decades of proactive groundwater recharge activities, this portion of the Kings Subbasin has not experienced significant overdraft conditions experienced elsewhere in the subbasin. Drought and other challenges, however, have contributed to a gradual decline in overall groundwater conditions that will be addressed through the implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the North Kings region.
Objectives
The North Kings GSA, consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014, has developed a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) ahead of the legislated deadline of January 31, 2020. This document was developed in compliance with the California Department of Water Resources’ Groundwater Sustainability Plan Emergency Regulations (the GSP was revised in 2022 following DWR’s review). Developed pursuant to Water Code Section 10733.2, the regulations describe the components of groundwater sustainability plans, intra-basin coordination agreements, and the methods and criteria to be used by Department of Water Resources to evaluate those plans and coordination agreements.
Groundwater Sustainability Plan
The North Kings GSA finalized the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) and submitted it to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on January 28, 2020, ahead of the January 31, 2020 mandate.
The GSP was revised and resubmitted in 2022 following DWR’s 2-year review and determination. The revised GSP was recommended for approval in March 2023.
Download Revised GSPGroundwater Sustainability Plan Comments
Department of Water Resources Review – 2022
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) provided comments in January 2022 on the North Kings GSA’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) following a 2-year review period. As with many of the GSPs across the State and all in the San Joaquin Valley, the North Kings GSA’s GSP was determined to be incomplete, requiring revisions within 180 days.
DWR’s comments were addressed to the Kings Subbasin’s seven GSAs and identified deficiencies on the thresholds set for groundwater levels, land subsidence, water quality and interconnected streams. A coordinated effort among the seven Kings Subbasin GSAs, including the North Kings GSA, resulted in a revised GSP that adequately addressed their concerns. The revised GSP was recommended by DWR staff for approval in March 2023.
Read more by following the post links below:
The 2020 GSP version can be downloaded by section here:
Executive Summary
1 – Introduction
2 – Plan Area
3 – Basin Setting
4 – Sustainable Management Criteria
5 – Monitoring Network
6 – Projects and Management Action
7 – Plan Implementation
8 – References & Appendices Sections 1 & 2
8 – Appendix Section 3A Part 1 of 2
8 – Appendix Section 3A Part 2 of 2
8 – Appendices Sections 4, 5 & 6
Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan Comments – 2019
The North Kings GSA received comments on its draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). All comments are provided here on the North Kings GSA’s website to provide transparency to any interested person or organization about the GSP and comments offered by stakeholders. North Kings GSA gives due consideration to all comments and will continue to consider comments as it implements the GSP. North Kings GSA understands that new or different data will develop, and new or different comments might arise. Accordingly, North Kings GSA recognizes that modifications to its GSP implementation policies or efforts might be appropriate in the future. North Kings GSA looks forward to working with stakeholders to implement SGMA.
North Kings GSP Comments Letters – Combined
