North Kings GSA joins statewide effort to promote groundwater awareness this week

NEWS RELEASE
March 10, 2022
Contact: Kassy Chauhan
Email: kchauhan@fresnoirrigation.com

FRESNO, Calif. – The North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) has joined GSAs statewide to promote and celebrate local groundwater efforts across the country as part of Groundwater Awareness Week (GWAW) from March 6-12, 2022. The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and The Groundwater Foundation established the week in 1999 to highlight responsible development, management, and use of groundwater.

Groundwater is a critical component of California’s water supply, accounting for 40 percent in a normal year and up to 60 percent during dry conditions. Groundwater serves as a resource for many different industries and uses, including farms, urban and rural communities, and ecosystems across the state. To help ensure long-term sustainable groundwater conditions, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014 set forth a statewide regulatory framework for improving the management of our critical groundwater resources.

“Although water managers here locally have always had their eye on sustainable water management, for example through recharge basin development and surface and flood water capture, local efforts to sustainably manage groundwater have taken off over the last several years since SGMA’s adoption” states North Kings GSA Executive Officer Kassy Chauhan. “More and more we are seeing a broader coalition of agencies, managers, and individuals who recognize the importance of securing this resource for years to come.”

The North Kings GSA is one of seven GSAs in the Kings Subbasin, located in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley. Although the North Kings GSA area has a long history of groundwater recharge, drought and other challenges have contributed to a gradual decline in overall groundwater conditions that are being addressed through implementation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP).

As we are entering a third dry year, understanding groundwater conditions and managing groundwater so it is available for future generations’ use is crucial.

Significant progress has been made in the Kings Subbasin to address groundwater decline and bring sustainability to the region. In the short span of two years since the Kings Subbasin submitted their GSPs to the State, the GSAs have collectively invested in 600 acres of prime groundwater recharge land representing 15 dedicated basins that have been constructed or in development. This project development is anticipated to provide over 15,000 acre feet of recharge per year on average, directly benefitting groundwater levels for communities and ag lands in the region.

View interactive StoryMap for Kings Subbasin groundwater project highlights.

For more information on the North Kings GSA’s local groundwater management efforts, visit northkingsgsa.org.

For information on SGMA and groundwater education, visit the California Department of Water Resources SGMA website, interactive groundwater StoryMap, and view this educational groundwater video.

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