GSP Resources
2025 Updated Draft GSP
2022 Revised GSP
Kings Subbasin GSP Documents
CA Department of Water Resources
Best Management Practices
Best Management Practices, or BMPs, are defined by DWR as “the practice, or combination of practices, that are designed to achieve sustainable groundwater management and have been determined to be technologically and economically effective, practicable, and based on best available science.” The documents are a source of guidance for GSAs to develop GSPs that in their implementation, succeed in reaching sustainability.
CA State Water Resources Control Board
SGMA Made Simple
SGMA is complex. We’ve broken down concepts into video segments, infographics, and key terms. View the content below.
Basin Setting
Information about the physical setting, characteristics, and current conditions of the basin as described by the Agency in the hydrogeological conceptual model, the groundwater conditions, and the water budget
Best Management Practice (BMP)
Practice, or combination of practices, that are designed to achieve sustainable groundwater management and have been determined to be technologically and economically effective, practicable, and based on best available science
Coordination Agreement
A legal agreement adopted between two or more groundwater sustainability agencies that provides the basis for coordinating multiple agencies or GSPs within a basin
De Minimis User
A well owner who extracts two acre-feet or less per year from a parcel for domestic purposes
Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP)
A written strategy that specifies how the GSA will reach subbasin-wide sustainability. The Plan requires, among additional elements, a description of the Plan area, a hydrogeologic conceptual model, sustainability goals and objectives, a monitoring network, and projects and management actions to achieve the sustainability goal. In high- to medium-priority with critical overdraft conditions, GSPs must be submitted to the CA Department of Water Resources every five years.
Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model
A model that utilizes current and historical data to forecast future groundwater conditions
Watch a video explanation of the concept here: click here
Interim Plan
If deemed “probationary” due to failure to develop an adequate GSP, or failure to implement the GSP successfully, the State Board will allow the local GSAs time to fix the issue that led to probation. If the GSAs are unable to fix the issues, an interim plan will be implemented by the State. The interim plan will contain corrective actions, a timeline to reach sustainability, and a monitoring plan to ensure corrective actions are working. This kind of plan would include a fee structure and blunt corrective actions such as reduced pumping.
Measurable Objectives
Refers to specific, quantifiable goals for the maintenance or improvement of specified groundwater conditions that have been included in an adopted Plan to achieve the sustainability goal for the basin
Minimum Thresholds
A numeric value for each sustainability indicator used to define undesirable results
Probationary Basin
If GSAs are unable to develop an adequate GSP, or fail to implement the GSP successfully, the Board may designate the entire basin probationary. Anyone who extracts groundwater from a probationary basin must file an extraction report with the State Water Resources Board. The State Board may require use of meters to measure extractions and reporting of additional information.
Sustainability Goal
Existence and implementation of one or more GSPs that achieve sustainable groundwater management by identifying and causing the implementation of measures targeted to ensure operation within sustainable yield
Sustainability Indicator
Any of the effects caused by groundwater conditions occurring throughout the basin that, when significant and unreasonable, cause undesirable results
Sustainability Yield
Maximum quantity of water, calculated over a base period representative of long-term conditions in the basin and including any temporary surplus, that can be withdrawn annually from a groundwater supply without causing an undesirable result
Sustainable Groundwater Management
Defined by SGMA as management and use of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained during the planning and implementation horizon without causing undesirable results
Undesirable Results
Chronic lowering of groundwater levels and supply, significant and unreasonable reduction of groundwater storage, significant and unreasonable seawater intrusion, significant and unreasonable degraded water quality, significant and unreasonable land subsidence, depletion of interconnected surface water that have adverse impacts on beneficial uses of surface water
Unmanaged Area
Part of a subbasin not within the management area of a GSA before July 1, 2017. There are 7 GSAs that cover the entire geography of the Kings Subbasin; there are no areas of the Subbasin considered and unmanaged area.
GSP Workshop Presentations
English
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Español
Sesión 1
Sesión 2
Sesión 3
Sesión 4
GSP Workshop Videos
VIDEO – Session 1
– SGMA Overview
– GSP Purpose
– Subbasin Coordination
VIDEO – Session 2
– Historic and current groundwater conditions
– Water budget
VIDEO – Session 3
– Sustainable Management Criteria
– Measurable Objectives and Minimum Thresholds
VIDEO – Session 4
– Projects and Management Actions
Workshop Handouts
English
Speaker Bios
Key Terms and Acronyms
Kings Subbasin Map
Sustainability Indicator Infographics
Commenting on the GSP
Español
BIOGRAFÍAS DE ALTAVOCES
TÉRMINOS CLAVE
Mapa de Kings Subbasin
INDICADORES DE SOSTENIBILIDAD
Revisa y Commentario
Direct Mail Pieces
English
Sustainability Solutions Postcard
August GSP Newsletter and Workshops
Español
Sustainability Solutions Postcard
Community Workshop Promotional Postcard
August GSP Newsletter and Workshops