Minimal Impact Exclusions Adopted for Certain Pumpers in Tulare Lake and Tule Subbasins
Press release from the State Water Resources Control Board:
At its April 7th Board Meeting, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) approved two resolutions excluding certain groundwater extractors from Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) reporting and fee requirements, on the basis that these groundwater pumpers have a minimal impact on groundwater extractions. Pumpers covered by the exclusions are not required to report their extractions or pay fees to the Board.
Resolution 2026-0011 excludes well owners who extract no more than 20 acre-feet of groundwater per year in the Tule Subbasin, and do not pump groundwater within 2 miles of the Friant-Kern Canal, from SGMA reporting and fee requirements.
Resolution 2026-0012 excludes well owners who extract no more than 20 acre-feet of groundwater per year in the Tulare Lake Subbasin, and do not export groundwater outside the Subbasin, from SGMA reporting and fee requirements.
Information for Groundwater Pumpers Who Qualify for the Exclusion
The exclusion applies to the groundwater extraction reports that are due May 1, 2026, and will continue to apply to future extraction reports unless modified or rescinded by the Board.
Groundwater pumpers who qualify for the exclusion should notify the State Water Board that the exclusion applies to them using the quick reporting tool on the home page of the Groundwater Extraction Annual Reporting System (GEARS). If they do not notify the Board, the Board may continue to treat them as subject to the reporting requirement and may send additional letters or initiate enforcement actions. Groundwater pumpers who qualify for the exclusion and already reported their extraction reports will not be invoiced and will not have to pay associated fees.
More information:
- View the Tulare Lake Minimal Impact Exclusion Frequently Asked Questions
- View the Tule Subbasin Minimal Impact Exclusion Frequently Asked Questions
- View the Tulare Lake Subbasin webpage, Tule Subbasin webpage, and Reporting and Fees webpage for information about 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 Tulare Lake and Tule Groundwater Subbasins
