State to consider excluding “small pumpers” from groundwater regulations 

• Editor’s note: Monserrat Solis covers Kings County water issues for SJV Water through the California Local News Fellowship initiative. 

Small farmers pumping less than 20 acre feet per year in the Tule and Tulare Lake subbasins may see some respite from the state’s groundwater reporting sanctions. 

The state Water Resources Control Board announced that it would consider excluding small pumpers from the May 1 reporting deadline. The Water Board will discuss the exclusion at its April 7 meeting.

Those wishing to submit a public comment before the meeting, may email comments to SGMA@waterboards.co.gov with the subject line “Comments – Minimal Impact Exclusions” by March 30 at 12 p.m.

Information on how to attend the April board meeting in person or virtually are not yet available.

Smaller pumpers may be excluded as they thave minimal impact on groundwater extractions, a statement from the Water Board read.

About 44% of groundwater pumpers in the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers most of Kings County, and 49% of pumpers in the neighboring Tule subbasin are extracting fewer than 20 acre feet of groundwater annually. That makes up about 1% of water usage in each region, the statement read.

On April 16, 2024, the Water Board placed the Tulare Lake subbasin on probation for lacking an adequate groundwater plan.

Then on Sept. 17, 2024, the Tule subbasin was placed on probation due to subsidence, or land sinking, causing ongoing damage to the Friant-Kern Canal.

Probation requires farmers to meter and register their wells at $300 each, pay $20 per acre foot pumped and report extractions. Farmers and pumpers in both regions will be required to report groundwater extractions by May 1 and pay $20 per acre foot pumped to the state.

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