At its April 21st Board meeting, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) approved a resolution to deny requests for exclusion from probationary reporting and fees from the following groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in the Tule Subbasin, a probationary subbasin under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA): 

• 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  
  
  

Background 

The State Water Board designated the Tule subbasin as probationary under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) on September 17, 2024. Many 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. In fall 2025, eight additional GSAs requested exclusions from reporting and fee requirements for pumpers in their GSA areas.  

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