By Don A. Wright
Here’s you a little something the State Board released into the wild at 5:04pm Friday afternoon*; a new acronym GEARS and the starting time for extracting millions of dollars from the Tulare Lake Subbasin.
California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
New SGMA Reporting Requirements for Groundwater Extractors in the Tulare Lake Subbasin
This email is to inform you of new reporting requirements for groundwater extractors (people who pump groundwater) in the Tulare Lake Subbasin. Sign up for SGMA groundwater extraction reporting and fee email reminders and updates at bit.ly/SWRCB-email-subscriptions (“SGMA Groundwater Extraction Reporting and Fees” under State Water Board General Interests).
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) oversees groundwater management in California and can designate subbasins as “probationary” pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Because the efforts of the Tulare Lake Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) were not sufficient, the State Water Board deemed the Tulare Lake Subbasin a “probationary” subbasin during the Board’s probationary hearing held on April 16th, 2024.
Groundwater extractors within this subbasin are required to track their groundwater use starting July 15, 2024, and submit annual groundwater extraction reports by December 1, 2024, unless they are de minimis extractors. A de minimis extractor is a well owner who pumps two acre-feet or less of groundwater per year for domestic purposes only.
Groundwater extractors in the Tulare Lake Subbasin who are required to report will need to:
- Begin tracking their groundwater extractions starting July 15, 2024, using a device or method satisfactory to the State Water Board. Extractors who pump more than 500 acre-feet per year of groundwater from the subbasin will need to install and use certified flow meters on their wells. The State Water Board may approve alternative approaches for tracking those large extractions. See the Board’s Tulare Lake Subbasin webpage for more information.
- Submit a groundwater extraction report by December 1, 2024, via the Groundwater Extraction Annual Reporting System (GEARS). This report would cover extractions from July 15th to September 30th, 2024, by month.
- Pay an extraction fee after submitting a groundwater extraction report. Extractors may request a fee waiver if they meet the eligibility criteria specified in California Code of Regulations, title 23, section 1044. Additional fee waiver guidance is forthcoming and will be posted on the State Water Board’s website.
- Groundwater extraction reports will provide necessary information to the GSAs to better address deficiencies in their Groundwater Sustainability Plan, and to inform the State Water Board as they evaluate whether it needs to develop an interim plan. Until GSA efforts are sufficient, groundwater extractors are required to track their monthly groundwater extractions for the water year, submit a groundwater extraction report, and pay extraction fees while the subbasin is in probation. Extraction fees are required to cover the costs of state intervention activities, pursuant to California Code of Regulations, title 23, section 1040.
The following resources are available to assist groundwater extractors in the Tulare Lake Subbasin with SGMA reporting requirements:
- Groundwater Extraction Report Quick Guide
- Groundwater Extractors and State Intervention under SGMA FAQ
- Property owners who the State Water Board believes may be subject to these new reporting requirements will receive a letter in the mail in early June with additional
information and a Correspondence ID necessary for using GEARS. If you are subject to these reporting requirements but do not receive a letter from the Board, you still must record your groundwater extractions, submit reports, and pay fees. If you do not receive a letter, you will need to contact the Board by email at sgma@waterboards.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 322-6508. Failure to notify the Board of reportable wells and extractions may result in additional fees and penalties.
If you have questions regarding this information, please contact State Water Board staff by email at sgma@waterboards.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 322-6508.
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*Hmm? Late Friday afternoon on long holiday weekend?
