The board approved a groundwater allocation framework accepting North Kings GSA's total allocation bucket at 445,600 acre-feet, with how that is divided among agencies to be worked out in coming months. Well registration has reached 8,179 wells, with a $100 late fee in effect and an enforcement policy in development. Reservoirs are high and Friant Class 1 is at 100 percent, but snowpack and runoff are below average.
The Board extended the groundwater well registration deadline to January 30, 2026, with a $100 late fee taking effect automatically afterward. Over 5,800 wells have been registered to date, representing 60-70% of estimated total wells, including nearly 3,000 domestic wells. Construction has begun on 6 of 10 dedicated monitoring wells that will provide more reliable groundwater data through telemetry and remote monitoring, with completion expected before spring 2026 measurements.
Over 2,500 wells have been registered since the May 1st requirement took effect, with officials defending the domestic well registration requirement as necessary for complete data collection and access to mitigation programs. The organization received a clean audit opinion and maintains strong financial health. Allocation framework discussions continue, with hopes to finalize the framework at the November 21 coordination meeting and bring it to GSAs for consideration in December/January...
