Water managers in the Tulare Lake, Tule and the Kaweah subbasins are discussing the possibility of creating a regional subsidence plan that would cover the three basins.
By Monserrat Solis, SJV Water
Subsidence, or land sinking, has been a major problem for all three regions, causing a 33-mile long sag in the Friant-Kern Canal and repeatedly sinking the Corcoran levee. Excessive groundwater pumping has caused so much subsidence, it can be seen from space and was nicknamed the “Corcoran bowl.”
Subsidence is also a main focus of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which mandates groundwater agencies bring aquifers into balance by 2040 and halt negative impacts of over pumping – such as subsidence.
Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s Manager Chuck Kinney informed the GSA board during a March 11 meeting that he’s met with other water managers in the region to work on a joint subsidence monitoring and action plan.
“All of the discussions are preliminary at this point, but it seems like there’s an interest amongst the general managers to work towards this regional approach, since actions of a GSA could impact all of the other GSAs and all the surrounding subbasins’ ability to address subsidence,” Kinney told the board.
Kinney didn’t specify which water managers were included in the conversation but said it was a “broad grouping” of GSA managers and consultants within the three subbasins.
“To date we have worked to get a better understanding of where individual GSAs are and how they are looking at subsidence to see if a regional approach could be advantageous for the three subbasins,” Kinney told SJV Water.
When asked what a subsidence plan would look like, Kinney said the plan was in the early stages. He said all parties are interested in moving forward with discussing a plan to reduce subsidence.
A timeline is unclear.
While the Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins were placed on probation last year, the Kaweah subbasin’s probation hearing before the state Water Resources Control Board was canceled as it had substantial progress in its groundwater plans.
The Kern subbasin was given four months to make revisions to its water plans. The Delta-Mendota and Chowchilla subbains are expected to have hearings later this year.
Under probation, farmers have to meter and register at $300 each and pay an extra $20 per acre foot pumped. That’s on top of existing fees to groundwater agencies and water districts.
Those state sanctions are paused in the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers most of Kings County, pending the outcome of a lawsuit.
One step closer
Though state-mandated well registration and tracking is on hold, several GSAs in the Tulare Lake subbasin are doing exactly that on their own.
The Mid-Kings River GSA board on Monday approved researching a software system to register and monitor wells, a move that had already been greenlighted by the GSA’s nine-member advisory group.
Once the software system is in place, Kinney said its use could easily be transferred to a new entity, if needed.
“Whomever is in charge of this GSA will have full access,” Kinney said. “It will just transfer with a password.”
Last week, the Kings County Water District board discussed mending the relationship with the Mid-Kings River GSA after it left the joint powers agreement, leaving the County of Kings and City of Hanford to reform a new Mid-Kings River GSA.
Newly elected members of the Kings County Water District board have expressed interest in rejoining the Mid-Kings River GSA.
But for now, the GSA will stay in the hands of the Kings County board of supervisors.
Kinney also said staff is close to creating a budget for the GSA. He hopes to discuss the budget at the next board meeting on April 8.
