Final 2025 Groundwater Sustainability Plan Approved: The board unanimously adopted the final 2025 Kern Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan, which includes significant updates to subsidence monitoring protocols, well mitigation programs, and community outreach strategies. The plan will be submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board ahead of the critical September 17th probationary hearing in Sacramento, where the state will determine whether the Kern Subbasin remains under probationary status or faces state intervention.
Landowner Assessment Structure Under Development: An ad hoc committee is working on developing a fee structure for non-districted landowners, with particular focus on "white lands" (areas not covered by existing water districts). The committee is addressing complex issues including how to coordinate fees with existing water districts to prevent landowners from switching between entities based solely on cost differences.
State Ramping Up SGMA Implementation Enforcement: Statewide, the Department of Water Resources is now sending letters to groundwater sustainability agencies that appear "off track" in their implementation efforts, requiring more detailed explanations in annual reports about whether they're meeting sustainability goals. This signals increased scrutiny on actual implementation versus just having approved plans.
The authority received a $1.8 million grant deposit and has started receiving cash calls from member agencies to fund operations.
Extensive community outreach was conducted including 5 community partner meetings, 5 pop-up events in disadvantaged communities, and 5 focus groups as required by state board staff.
The coordination agreement between Kern Subbasin groundwater sustainability agencies was updated to reflect changes in the 2025 plan, particularly around monitoring networks and well mitigation programs.
Staff is working with Land IQ on water usage analysis and field monitoring to support the groundwater sustainability plan implementation.
One landowner contacted the agency regarding well issues, with staff facilitating assistance through existing programs.
DWR is updating Bulletin 118 by end of year, focusing on adding information about basin implementation progress rather than reclassifying basin status.
The Tulare Lake Subbasin probationary reporting and fees have been delayed from December 2025 to May 2026 by the State Water Board.
Approved:
To engage with KNDLA or provide comments, contact Executive Director Jenny at the authority office. The next board meeting date was not specified during this meeting.
