At its April 16, 2024 meeting, the State Water Board will consider designating the Tulare Lake subbasin a probationary basin under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). See the hearing notice for information on the hearing time and location and how to participate.

If the State Water Board designates the subbasin probationary, it will also identify deficiencies (issues) and potential actions people in basins could take to address the deficiencies. While the basin is in probation, many people who extract groundwater will need to report their extractions to the State Water Board and pay fees. The State Water Board may also require extractors to install and use meters or other methods to measure their extractions.

State Water Board staff have developed draft recommendations of actions for the State Water Board to consider. They invite your input on the Draft Staff Report no later than December 11, 2023, at 12:00 noon. View the Draft Staff Report online here; a shorter Executive Summary is also available in both English and Spanish. Staff will consider all comments received by December 11, 2023, at the noon deadline when developing the Final Staff Report.

See the hearing notice for:

  1. Instructions for how to comment on the Draft Staff Repor
  2. Information on two public staff workshops prior to the probationary hearing. At the workshops, staff will explain the Draft Staff Report and share more about how to participate in the State Water Board’s process. Staff will also accept verbal public comments on the Draft Staff Report at the workshops.

Questions? Contact the SGMA Program at SGMA@waterboards.ca.gov or 916-322-6508.

More information about SGMA and the State Water Board’s role can be found here: www.waterboards.ca.gov/sgma.