State Water Board Continuation of SGMA Hearing for Kern Subbasin
On February 20, 2025, the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) held a public hearing to consider a probationary designation for the Kern County Subbasin under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). At the hearing, the Board members heard presentations from groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), Board staff, and other interested parties, and received public comments, before deciding to continue the hearing to September 17, 2025.
By continuing the hearing, the Board is providing more time for Kern County Subbasin GSAs to finish resolving identified deficiencies in their groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) before the Board members decide whether to designate the Subbasin as probationary. The Board’s resolution to continue the hearing requests that the Subbasin GSAs provide their revised draft GSPs by June 20, 2025, to allow the GSAs a reasonable additional period of time to correct the existing deficiencies and also give the Board time to evaluate and consider those draft plans in advance of the continued hearing date. At the continued hearing, the Board will provide another opportunity for public input in evaluating any updated GSPs that are submitted.
Continuation of Public Board Hearing
Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
In-Person Location
Joe Serna Jr. CalEPA Headquarters Building
1001 I Street, Second Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
The continued hearing will be conducted in accordance with the Notice of Public Hearing issued on July 25, 2024.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Additional information and details on how to participate will be sent to this email list in advance of the September 17, 2025, continued hearing date. The hearing will be webcast in English, Spanish, and Punjabi. Spanish and Punjabi interpretation will be provided. For language services other than Spanish and Punjabi, please contact 916-341-5254 or OPP-LanguageServices@waterboards.ca.gov.
MORE INFORMATION:
- View the July 25, 2024 public notice in English or the public notice in Spanish for more background information.
- View the Final Kern County Subbasin Probationary Hearing Staff Report.
- View the Executive Summary in English; view the Executive Summary in Spanish; view the Executive Summary in Punjabi.
- Visit the Kern County Subbasin webpage and the Board’s general SGMA webpage.
- Sign up for SGMA groundwater management email reminders and updates (this Listserv) at ly/SWRCB-email-subscriptions (under State Water Board General Interests).
Questions? Contact the SGMA Program at sgma@waterboards.ca.gov or 916‑322‑6508.
