Statement of Findings regarding the Determination of Incomplete Status of the San Joaquin Valley – KIngs Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plans

The Department of Water Resources (Department) is required to evaluate whether a submitted groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) conforms to specific requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), is likely to achieve the sustainability goal for the basin covered by the GSP, and whether the GSP adversely affects the ability of an adjacent basin to implement its GSP or impedes achievement of sustainability goals in an adjacent basin. (Water Code § 10733.) The Department is directed to issue an assessment of the GSP within two years of its submission. (Water Code § 10733.4.)

SGMA allows for multiple GSPs implemented by multiple groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and coordinated pursuant to a single coordination agreement that covers the entire basin to be an acceptable planning scenario. (Water Code § 10727.) In the San Joaquin Valley – Kings Subbasin (Subbasin), seven separate GSPs were prepared by seven GSAs pursuant to the required coordination agreement. This Statement of Findings explains the Department’s decision regarding the multiple GSPs covering the Subbasin. Collectively, the seven GSPs and the coordination agreement are referred to as the Plan for the Subbasin. Individually, the GSPs include the following:

• Central Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan
(Central Kings GSP) – prepared the Central Kings GSA (CKGSA).
• James Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan
(James GSP) – prepared by the James GSA (JGSA).
• Kings River East Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Kings River East GSP) – prepared by the Kings River East GSA (KREGSA).
• McMullin Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan (McMullin GSP) – prepared by the McMullin Area GSA (MAGSA).
• North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan (North Fork Kings GSP) – prepared by the North Fork Kings GSA (NFKGSA).
• North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan
(North Kings GSP) – prepared by the North Kings GSA (NKGSA).
San Joaquin Valley – Kings Subbasin (Basin No. 5-022.08)
• South Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Sustainability Plan
(South Kings GSP) – prepared by the South Kings GSA (SKGSA).

Department management has reviewed the enclosed Staff Report, which recommends that the deficiencies identified should preclude approval of the Plan. Based on its review of the Staff Report, Department management is satisfied that staff have conducted a thorough evaluation and assessment of the Plan and concurs with, and hereby adopts, staff’s recommendation and all the corrective actions provided. The Department thus deems the Plan incomplete based on the Staff Report and the findings contained herein.