San Joaquin Valley Tulare Lake Subbasin

    The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) designated the Tulare Lake Subbasin as probationary at a public hearing on April 16, 2024. During probation, groundwater pumpers may be subject to reporting and fees. However, de minimis users, or small domestic (household) well users who extract two acre-feet or less of groundwater per year for domestic purposes only, are exempt from these requirements. All other pumpers within the Tulare Lake Subbasin must track their groundwater extraction starting from July 15, 2024.

    Reporting deadlines are as follows:

    • By May 1, 2026, pumpers must submit annual groundwater extraction reports for the period of July 15, 2024 – September 30, 2025.
    • For every subsequent water year (October 1 – September 30) that the basin is probationary, pumpers must submit extraction reports by February 1 of the following year.

    Fee requirements are as follows:

    • Pumpers will need to pay fees as shown in the table below.
    Tulare Lake Subbasin Groundwater Extraction Fees
    Fee Category Fee Amount Applicable Parties
    Annual Base Filing Fee $300 per well All pumpers required to report (excludes de minimis pumpers).
    Volumetric Rate $20 per AF Pumpers in probationary basins (excludes de minimis pumpers).
    Automatic Late Fee 25% per month Pumpers that do not file reports by the due date.

    AF = acre-foot
    An acre-foot is enough water to cover one acre of land with one foot of water.

    More information about measuring extraction volumes, reporting, and paying fees can be found in the fact sheet below and on our Reporting and Fees webpage.

    In early June 2024, the State Water Board mailed a notice letter and “Reporting Quick Guide”, linked below, to well-owners in the Tulare Lake Subbasin who may need to measure and report their groundwater extractions to notify them of this requirement. The letter included a unique Correspondence ID that the well owner needs in order to file their extraction report.

    Since well location and county parcel information are sometimes incomplete, it is possible not all those required to report extractions received a letter from the Board. If you are subject to these reporting requirements but did not receive a letter from the Board, you still must record your groundwater extractions, submit reports, and pay fees. Contact the State Water Board by email at sgma@waterboards.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 322-6508 to get set up for reporting and avoid future enforcement action.

    Find out more about State Water Board actions in the Tulare Lake Subbasin on this webpage below. General information about the state intervention process can be found on our state intervention webpage and in the frequently asked questions document below.

    Important Dates

    Date Action
    July 15, 2024 All non-exempt pumpers need to begin measuring their groundwater extractions on a monthly basis
    July 15, 2024 Those who cumulatively extract more than 500 acre-feet of groundwater per year from the subbasin need to begin measuring their extractions with a certified flow meter or an alternate method as specified in the State Water Board's resolution
    September 30, 2025 End of first reporting period (July 15, 2024 – September 30, 2025)
    May 1, 2026 Groundwater extraction monthly volumes for the period between July 15, 2024, and September 30, 2025, must be reported to the State Water Board via the State Water Board's GEARS reporting system. Invoices for extraction fees will follow (see below).
    30 days after invoice is issued Extraction fees are due to the State Water Board

    Monday, July 15, 2024

    This is the statutory date for pumpers to begin measuring and recording their monthly groundwater extractions. This applies as long as the subbasin is designated as probationary pursuant to California Water Code, Division 6, Part 2.74, Chapter 11 (State Intervention). For the Tulare Lake Subbasin, measuring and recording begins 90 days after the Board declared the subbasin probationary, which is July 15, 2024, and extends until the State Water Board determines the GSA or GSAs are on track to manage the subbasin sustainably. This requirement generally does not apply to “de minimis” groundwater pumpers. Visit the Groundwater Extraction Annual Reporting System (GEARS) to determine if you are a de minimis groundwater pumper who is exempt from reporting and paying fees or if you are required to measure and report your groundwater extraction volumes. Read the State Water Board's Options for Measuring Extraction Volumes (PDF) | Opciones para medir los volúmenes de extracción de aguas subterráneas (PDF) to learn more about ways to measure your groundwater extractions volumes.

    Friday, May 1, 2026

    This is the deadline for pumpers to report their monthly groundwater extraction volumes to database for the period between July 15, 2024 and September 30, 2025. If groundwater extraction volumes are not reported by May 1, an additional charge of 25% of the annual fees can be assessed for each 30-day period after May 1. In no case will the additional charge exceed three times the required annual fees. In addition, if reports are not submitted on time, the Board may investigate and determine, at your expense, your groundwater extractions and other information required to be reported. You will receive 60 days’ notice and an opportunity to report without penalty before the investigation begins.

    Invoices will be sent to non-de minimis pumpers after the reporting deadline. Extraction fees are due 30 days after the invoice date.

    Special Requirements for Large Pumpers*: If you extract more than 500 acre-feet of groundwater per year from the Tulare Lake Subbasin and already have flow meters installed on your wells, you must use the meters to track your groundwater extractions. If you extract more than 500 acre-feet of groundwater and do not already have flow meters installed on your wells, flow meters must be installed by July 15, 2024, or as soon as you begin extracting groundwater from a given well, whichever is later, except as described below. See California Code of Regulations, title 23, section 1042 for the requirements flow meters must meet.

    Proposing an alternative to flow meters: if you extract more than 500 acre-feet per year from the subbasin and do not already have meters installed, you may propose an alternative approach to measure or estimate extractions for the State Water Board’s consideration. In assessing alternative approaches, the Board will take into account the reliability and accuracy of these alternative approaches and whether they rely on readily verifiable information (e.g., publicly available evapotranspiration models). Specific considerations include but are not limited to whether:

    1. groundwater is extracted for uses not captured by evapotranspiration,
    2. sufficient details about crop irrigation and irrigation efficiency are provided, and
    3. contributions of precipitation and other sources to consumptive use are known and accounted for.

    Contact sgma@waterboards.ca.gov as soon as possible to ensure adequate time for evaluation of proposed alternative approaches in advance of the meter installation deadline, if you pump more than 500 acre-feet per year. Submitting a proposal for an alternative approach does not guarantee that the alternative will be approved or change the deadlines above for tracking and reporting extractions or measuring extractions. GSAs may submit proposals for alternative compliance mechanisms that will be applicable throughout their respective GSA boundaries.

    *The State Water Board will provide updated information regarding how it plans to assess compliance with the meter requirement on or after November 3, 2025.

    Probationary Hearing - April 16, 2024

    The probationary hearing for the Tulare Lake Subbasin was held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. At this hearing the State Water Board designated the Tulare Lake Subbasin as probationary.

    See the workshop flyer for more information:

    Contact Us

    If you have questions, please contact us at 916-322-6508 or email at SGMA@waterboards.ca.gov.

    San Joaquin Valley Tulare Lake Subbasin Map
    San Joaquin Valley Tulare Lake Subbasin Map

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