Groundwater Sustainability Plan
The North Fork Kings GSA submitted its updated Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in January 2025. A draft of the updated GSP was made available for a 40-day public comment period during October and November 2024, before a final version was approved by the Board and submitted to DWR. Download the GSP using the button above.
Latest GSP Updates
FAQs
Why did North Fork Kings GSA develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan?
The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a requirement of the 2014 California law, Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The State law requires all high- and medium-priority basin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to develop and implement a GSP. Once developed, GSPs are submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for review. Basins designated as medium- or high-priority and critically overdrafted were required to complete a GSP by January 31, 2020. SGMA defines a basin as critically overdrafted “when continuation of present water management practices would probably result in significant adverse overdraft-related environmental, social, or economic impacts.” The GSP is a roadmap for how a basin will avoid the adverse effects of overdraft and achieve balanced levels of groundwater to reach sustainability.
The North Fork Kings GSA is located within the Kings Subbasin, designated under SGMA as a high-priority, critically overdrafted basin. North Fork Kings GSA developed and submitted its GSP and a Kings Subbasin coordination agreement to the State ahead of the January 31, 2020 deadline.
What is a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP)?
A Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is a roadmap for how a basin will avoid the adverse effects of groundwater overdraft and achieve balanced levels of groundwater to reach sustainability.
North Fork Kings GSA’s GSP includes a physical description of the groundwater management area including groundwater conditions, a water budget, groundwater management criteria, a monitoring program, and projects and measurable objectives to become sustainable by 2040. The North Fork Kings GSA Board aims to maintain flexibility in both supply and demand-side solutions, treating the GSP as a living document that can be adapted as needed to achieve sustainability.
While the State’s requirements for a GSP’s content are the same for all GSAs, North Fork Kings GSA’s issues and solutions are very specific to the unique challenges within the groundwater management area that it serves.
Who is involved in implementing the Groundwater Sustainability Plan?
Groundwater Sustainability Agency
The State has granted local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) powers to implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in groundwater subbasins. In many cases, multiple GSAs exist within a subbasin. The State measures sustainability success at the subbasin level rather than individual GSA level. This means GSAs coordinate within their subbasin to achieve sustainable levels of groundwater.
Although GSAs may choose to develop individual GSPs, they must cooperate under a formal Coordination Agreement to bring the subbasin to sustainable groundwater levels by 2040.
The North Fork Kings GSA is one of seven GSAs in the Kings Subbasin. Each GSA developed and submitted its own GSP to the State, and will coordinate under a formal Coordination Agreement to ensure sustainability is met in the Kings Subbasin by 2040.
State Water Resources Control Board
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board or SWRCB) is the enforcement agency under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Their role is to enforce SGMA mandates are met at the local level by Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). If GSAs fail to meet SGMA’s mandates, the State Board will intervene to implement the law. If a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is found by CA DWR to be inadequate, the subbasin transitions to oversight under the State Board. If the subbasin fails to meet the State Board’s requirements, it could be designated “probationary” through the probationary hearing process. Under probation, the State Board intervenes to manage groundwater in the basin instead of the GSA(s), requiring any groundwater extractors to file an extraction report with the State Board. The State Board may require the use of meters to measure extractions and implement pumping fees.
CA Department of Water Resources
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is the regulating and assisting agency under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Their role is to review and approve Groundwater Sustainability Plans and track progress of local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) implementing their Plans. They also assist GSAs by providing data, tools, and technical support services.
Stakeholders
North Fork Kings GSA highly values public input and participation. Engagement in North Fork Kings GSA’s activities is necessary for the consideration of local stakeholders’ interests and preferences. North Fork Kings GSA will continue to provide opportunities for the public to engage in the GSP implementation process.
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THE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP or Plan) is the written strategy that outlines how the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) will avoid the adverse effects of groundwater over-pumping.
The GSP is where you can find a description of the North Kings GSA management boundary along with historic groundwater conditions, a water budget, sustainability criteria, a monitoring program, and projects and management actions to become sustainable. If you’re seeking answers about local groundwater management, the GSP is an excellent resource.
THE GSP IS REQUIRED AND REVIEWED BY THE STATE
The 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires all high- and medium-priority groundwater basins, including the Kings Subbasin, to develop and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan to resolve overdraft and achieve sustainability by 2040. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for determining whether the North Fork Kings GSA’s Plan meets SGMA requirements.
Is THE NORTH FORK KINGS GSA’S GSP CURRENTLY STATE-APPROVED?
In August 2023, the Kings Subbasin and its seven GSAs received official approval from the DWR, along with a list of 12 corrective actions. These corrective actions have been addressed in the updated versions of the Kings Subbasin GSPs, which were submitted to DWR in January 2025.
A STATE-APPROVED GSP MEANS LOCAL CONTROL
With the GSP approved, the North Fork Kings GSA can focus its efforts and resources on implementing SGMA locally to best meet the needs of its groundwater users. This approval gives the North Fork Kings GSA the flexibility to maintain local control over groundwater resources, offering greater consideration for local users’ needs rather than simply restricting pumping. Local stakeholders are able to play a direct role in shaping practical, sustainable approaches that work for them rather than facing top-down measures from the State.
GSP COORDINATION IN THE KINGS SUBBASIN
The North Fork Kings GSA is one of seven GSAs in the Kings Subbasin. The North Fork Kings GSA has developed and implemented an individual GSP in alignment with the Kings Subbasin Coordination Agreement. Under the Coordination Agreement, all seven GSAs submit their GSPs to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for review as a Subbasin. The GSAs must submit five-year periodic evaluations to show how sustainability progress is going and whether any adjustments are needed. Coordination is an ongoing effort; representatives from the seven GSAs meet on a monthly basis.
THE GSP IN ACTION - SGMA PROGRAMS
The North Fork Kings GSA has implemented projects and programs to manage groundwater sustainably. For example, the Well Registration Program equips the North Fork Kings GSA with the necessary data to proceed with the Confined Aquifer and Interconnected Surface Water Studies—two important pieces in addressing the corrective actions from the State. By registering wells before the September 30, 2024 deadline, eligible agricultural well owners can receive future grant funding for meter installations. This grant opportunity program is under development.
To satisfy the required action of Domestic Well Mitigation, the Kings Subbasin GSAs have launched a Dry Well Relief Program to assist households whose wells go dry due to declining groundwater levels. To learn more about the program visit mydrywell.org.
The Recharge Credit Program allows landowners who have conducted surface water recharge since 2023 to submit a recharge project registration form to the North Fork Kings GSA. Once policies are in place, participants can receive future groundwater extraction credits. For more information and to access the registration form, visit northforkkings.org.
The North Fork King GSA encourages all stakeholders to participate in shaping the policies and programs that will lead to a sustainable groundwater supply. Get involved by attending our Policy, Rural Community Advisory, Technical Advisory, or Grower Advisory committee meetings. You can also join us at our Board of Directors meetings to share your input, stay informed, and help guide decisions that impact our groundwater.