The East Kaweah GSA Board approved Allocation Year (AY) 2025 allocations at the July 22nd board meeting. First, we want to applaud our growers for their hard work and ability to adapt to allocations since they were first rolled out in October 2021. Your adjustments to groundwater use have been and continue to be foundational to our progress under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The GSA wants to make our growers aware of new adjustments to the allocation numbers that are being implemented to keep our momentum moving in the right direction.

The native yield allocation has been updated to better reflect the relationship between Kaweah River flows and groundwater  conditions. Looking at a 25-year historical period, the Technical Advisory Committee used average Kaweah River inflows to guide its understanding of available groundwater to pump sustainably (the native yield). While Kaweah River supplies are not the only factor impacting the amount of pumping, technical analysis has shown there is a correlation between Kaweah River inflows and groundwater storage that needed to be factored in.

The precipitation credit rate was adjusted to better account for rainfall variability over time. A 25-year historical rainfall average was used to calculate the precipitation credit. Using the new rate, the credit was calculated based on the 25-year historical rainfall average of 11.01 inches, or 0.92 feet (80% x 0.92 feet = 0.73 feet). Using this longer period should result in less fluctuation of the precipitation credit amount so that growers experience more predictability year to year instead of the credit swinging in response to wet and dry years.

Summary of Allocation Year 2025

*Any groundwater use above the 0.82 AF/acre native yield must be imported allocated supplies. Groundwater use above the hard cap of 2.5 acre-feet per acre is accompanied by a $500 per acre foot charge, and a one for one reduction of growers’ 2026 Allocation Year supply.

The bottom line? The latest adjustments to native yield and the precipitation credit will result in growers having more predictability when it comes to their available supplies year over year. By better reflecting actual long-term water availability trends, swings between wet and dry years will be less consequential when it comes to determining the next year’s native yield and precipitation credit.