From the State Water Board:
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) designated the Tule subbasin as probationary under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) on September 17, 2024. Most groundwater pumpers in the Tule subbasin are required to report their groundwater extractions by May 1, 2026, and pay fees to the Board within 30 days after invoices are issued. The State Water Board, however, may exclude groundwater pumpers from these reporting and fee requirements if they are subject to a local plan that adequately manages groundwater within that part of the subbasin. The Board excluded pumpers managed by the Delano Earlimart Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) and the Kern-Tulare Water District GSA at the September 17, 2024, probationary hearing.
New Exclusion Requests
In fall 2025, eight additional GSAs requested exclusions from reporting and fee requirements for pumpers in their GSA areas. These GSAs were:
- Lower Tule River Irrigation District GSA
- Pixley Irrigation District GSA
- Porterville Irrigation District GSA
- Saucelito Irrigation District GSA
- Terra Bella Irrigation District GSA
- Tri-County Water Authority GSA
- Tea Pot Dome Water District GSA
- Vandalia Irrigation District GSA
Staff reviewed these requests and additional information submitted by the GSAs in response to staff questions and recommends the Board not take action to grant exclusions from reporting and fees to any of the eight new requests at this time. Read staff’s Review of Requests for Exclusion from Probationary Reporting and Fees for more information.
Action Item at the April 21, 2026, State Water Board Meeting
At the April 21, 2026, Board Meeting, the Board plans to consider the eight additional requests for exclusions from reporting and fees. The Board may take action consistent with the staff recommendation or other action regarding the reporting and fee requirement in the Tule Subbasin.
Language Services: This meeting will be held in English. To request translation of a written document, interpretation services for the meeting, or sign language services, please use one of the following options at least ten (10) business days before the meeting, if possible:
- Submit an online request: bit.ly/LanguageAccessForm
- Call (916) 341-5254
- Email languageservices@waterboards.ca.gov
See the Board meeting agenda for more information on how to participate or provide verbal comment at the meeting.
Written Public Comments
Members of the public may submit written comments to
SGMA-Tule@waterboards.ca.gov with the subject line “Comments – Tule Subbasin.”
Comments can also be submitted by mail:
Courtney Tyler, Clerk to the Board
State Water Resources Control Board
P.O. Box 100, Sacramento, CA 95812-2000
The deadline for written comments is 12:00pm (noon) on April 20, 2026.
More information:
- View the Public Notice
- View the Draft Resolution
- View the Tule Subbasin webpage and Reporting and Fees webpage for information about existing reporting and fee requirements.
- Visit the Board’s general SGMA webpage.
Contact the SGMA Program at sgma@waterboards.ca.gov or 916-322-6508 for additional information.
Map of the Tule Groundwater Subbasin
