Hanford-area groundwater agency adds two workshops, one Spanish-language

The Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) added two additional workshops in Hanford on June 16 and June 17 to help landowners register their wells before the July 31 deadline.

The June 16 workshop will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Kings County Government Center, engineering building 6. 

The Spanish-language workshop will be held June 17 from 2 to 6 p.m at the Kings River Hardwick Fire Station, 14680 Excelsior Avenue.

Landowners are encouraged to call the GSA to register.

Attendees should bring a laptop or tablet and the verification code they should have received in a letter from Mid-Kings.

Mid-Kings’ well registration policy requires all groundwater extractors to register their wells with the GSA by July 31.

This registration process is separate from the one required by the state Water Resources Control board as a result of the Tulare Lake subbasin being placed on probation in 2024 for lacking an adequate groundwater plan.

The state’s registration requirement was due by May 1. The state will also assess fees for water pumped separate from the GSA.

Under probation, farmers are required to register wells at $300 per well and pay $20 per acre foot pumped. 

Those fees are intended to cover the state’s costs of overseeing the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers most of Kings County.