Groundwater Allocation Hub
LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR GROWERS
East Kaweah GSA's Allocation Year 2024 invoicing period has begun. Account statements for Allocation Year 2024 are now available to review on the Water Dashboard.
Due to a coding error when closing out Water Dashboard accounts for invoicing, East Kaweah GSA is extending the invoicing period. Growers now have until May 16 to review their accounts, adjust their priority of use, and purchase credits on the Credit Manager. The original deadline was set for April 15.
Final invoices will be mailed to all landowners on June 1, and payments are due by June 30.
Learn more about the invoicing extension here.
Growers have more time to extend or purchase credits and are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. This can be done through the Water Dashboard's credit manager, or call the GSA at (559) 697-6095 or email groundwater@ekgsa.org.
Read the collection of blog posts on the Allocation Year 2024 invoicing season below, or click "learn more" to see extra resources.
Allocation Year 2024 Invoicing Period Has Begun
Water Credits Available for Purchase until April 15, 2025
New! Water Dashboard Provides Clearer View of Available Water
Available Water Credits
Extend the life of your existing groundwater credits and/or purchase Mitigation Tier supplies before the May 16th deadline. Purchase through your Water Dashboard account or contact us.
Informational Mailer Sent to Landowners
The 2024 invoicing season updates were mailed to landowners in March 2025. View the mailer below for the most recent updates.
Water Year 2025 groundwater allocation
Allocation
Allocation Year 2025 Groundwater Allocation
Allocation, October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025
- Native Yield = 0.82 AF/acre at no cost
- Hard Cap = 2.5 AF, $500/AF
- Precipitation credit = 0.73 AF/acre
Fee Structure
- $500 per AF over .82 AF unless the groundwater between .82 AF and 2.5 AF is imported allocated groundwater
- $500 per AF above 2.5 AF, and one for one reduction in 2026 allocation
Resolution 2023-07 - 2024 Allocations
Water Year 2024 GROUNDWATER allocation
Allocation
Water Year 2024, October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024
- Native Yield = 0.85 AF/acre at no cost
- Mitigation Tier* = 0.05 AF/acre, $500 per AF
- Hard Cap** = 2.5 AF/acre, $500 per AF
*groundwater use above Native Yield (.85 acre-feet per acre) must be comprised of imported allocated groundwater. If water above .85 acre-feet per acre is pumped and is not purchases Mitigation water or imported allocated groundwater, there will be a $500 per acre-foot charge and a one for one reduction of owners’ 2025 water year allocation.
**pumping 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 owners’ 2025 water year allocation.
Mitigation Tier Allocation Announced
SGMA requires that each GSA mitigate negative impacts caused by the overdraft of groundwater. In response, EKGSA has defined a Mitigation Plan. To fund the mitigation efforts, EKGSA will purchase surface water and allocate 0.05 acre-feet per irrigated acre. This is water placed in the ground by a willing seller to the EKGSA. EKGSA expects to pay about $250 AF and the balance of the charge will be to fund the mitigation plan. Landowners are required to accept the 0.05 AF by paying the EKGSA $500 per AF prior to December 31, 2023. If you do not pay by December 31, 2023, EKGSA will make it available to anyone who wants the water on a first come first served basis.
For further information on SGMA and the EKGSA please visit EKGSA.ORG.
Fee Structure
- $500 per AF over .85 AF unless the groundwater between .85 AF and 2.5 AF is imported allocated groundwater
- $500 per AF above 2.5 AF, and one for one reduction in 2025 allocation
Allocation Year 2022 Billing:
Bills for groundwater use fees incurred during Allocation Year 2022 (October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022) were mailed to stakeholders ahead of the billing period for Allocation Year 2022. The billing period is from August 21, 2023 to October 20, 2023.
During this 60-day billing period, the East Kaweah GSA encourages stakeholders to arrange their order of use on the Water Dashboard using the Credit Manager tool. If you do not yet have a Water Dashboard account, create an account at www.gsawd.com.
If you have created a new Water Dashboard account, you will not be able to claim your parcels on your own, because East Kaweah GSA grouped unclaimed parcels for billing purposes for the Allocation Year 2022 billing period. After you create your Water Dashboard account, please contact East Kaweah GSA at 559-697-6095 so a staff member can assign your parcels to you in your water account. If you have any questions or a need assistance, please call 559-697-6095 or email groundwater@ekgsa.org to schedule an appointment. East Kaweah GSA staff will be glad to assist you.
Calculating Groundwater Use
Groundwater use was calculated using evapotranspiration (ETa) measurements reported by Land IQ, unless the landowner provided alternative metering data. ETa is the amount of water consumed by the plant through evaporation and transpiration. Land IQ uses a data-driven model that uses satellite imagery and ground-truthing stations for detailed, field-scale water use reporting. Learn more about Land IQ by watching a past workshop video, and reviewing their FAQs. More information about LandIQ can be found at the bottom of this webpage.
Arranging Order of Use
The East Kaweah GSA has made improvements to the Water Dashboard to allow users to arrange their order of water use. Since ETa does not differentiate between surface water, rainfall, and groundwater, the Credit Manager allows stakeholders to make the distinction, potentially lowering their bill. After rearranging order of use, a new End of Year Invoice will autogenerate to reflect the latest changes on your bill. The East Kaweah GSA has made these updates to the Water Dashboard in preparation for billing to streamline the billing process.
Paying My Bill
To pay your bill, please mail a check to PO Box 908 in Lindsay, CA, 93247, or hand deliver a check to the East Kaweah GSA office at 315 E. Lindmore St., Lindsay, CA 93247. If you have questions about your bill or Water Dashboard account, please email groundwater@ekgsa.org, or call 559-697-6095.
Water Year 2023 GROUNDWATER allocation
Allocation
Water Year 2023, October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023
- Native Yield = 0.85 AF/acre at no cost
- Penalty Tier 1* = 0.3 AF/acre, $500 per AF
- Hard Cap** = 2.5 AF/acre, $500 per AF
*groundwater use above Penalty Tier 1 (1.15 acre-feet per acre) must be comprised of imported allocated groundwater. If water above 1.15 acre-feet per acre is pumped and not imported allocated groundwater, there will be a $500 per acre-foot charge and a one for one reduction of owners’ 2024 water year allocation.
**pumping 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 owners’ 2024 water year allocation.
Fee Structure
- $500 per AF over 1.15 AF unless the groundwater between 1.15 AF and 2.5 AF is imported allocated groundwater
- $500 per AF above 2.5 AF
Background
Due to persistent drought conditions and stress on the groundwater supply, the East Kaweah GSA has adopted groundwater allocations. The decision to implement allocations was not taken lightly but they are a necessary step to reach sustainability by 2040 under California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The East Kaweah GSA first established groundwater allocations for Allocation Year 2022 through an Emergency Ordinance, and then for Allocation Year 2023 through its Rules and Regulations. Groundwater allocations ensure the agency can make forward progress on sustainability and keep local control over groundwater management. These allocations were established with careful consideration.
This Groundwater Allocation Hub keeps East Kaweah GSA growers, residents, and the community informed on groundwater allocation updates, including tracking water use, billing, and FAQs. The following media and content are provided as tools to empower stakeholders in the work toward groundwater sustainability by 2040.
OUTREACH & RESOURCES
Groundwater Allocation FAQs (pdf)
DownloadAllocation Year 2022 Update - Landowner Letter Mailer (March 2023) (pdf)
DownloadGroundwater Allocation Educational Landowner Mailer (November 2022) (pdf)
DownloadEKGSA Request to Opt-In Form (pdf)
DownloadEKGSA Request to Opt-Out Form (pdf)
DownloadAY2024 Allocations - EKGSA Urgent Policy Announcement - mailer.FINAL (jpg)
Download2024-11 EKGSA Allocation Policy Updates Postcard (pdf)
DownloadGroundwater Allocation Webinar ENGLISH - December 2022
Seminario Web de Asignación de Aguas Subterráneas - diciembre 2022
End of Year Summary Statements were mailed to landowners. Scott Maskell explains what's in the statement, why it was sent, how landowners can make sense of the information, and next steps.
East Kaweah GSA Emergency Ordinance - Allocation Year 2022
Chris Hunter explains the Emergency Ordinance that retroactively established a groundwater allocation and fee structure from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022.
ET Adjustments for Fallowed Land, Cattle Ground, and Small Acreage - Allocation Year 2023
Chris Hunter updates us on the October 2022 Board decision to adjust ET for special use cases thanks to input and feedback from landowners and stakeholders.
East Kaweah GSA Allocation - Allocation Year 2023
Chris Hunter discusses East Kaweah GSA groundwater allocations for WY 2023.
East Kaweah GSA - Allocation Year 2023 FAQ
Chris Hunter answers frequently asked questions about the Water Year 2023 allocations.
Water Dashboard Tutorials
Water Dashboard Demo: End of Year Summaries
Water Dashboard Demo: Surface Water Feature
Water Dashboard Demo: Manage Fallowed Feature
Water Dashboard Demo: Update Your Dashboard View
Water Dashboard Demo: Groundwater Transfers
Credit Manager 101
Credit Manager: Getting Started
Credit Manager: Using Manual Mode
Credit Manager: Available Features
Tracking Water Use Using ET
The East Kaweah GSA, in partnership with GSAs in the Kaweah Subbasin, has provided access to the Water Dashboard, an online tool to help growers track water use and gain key water use insights at the field level. This is especially helpful to growers while monitoring water use within the allocation. The Water Dashboard reflects water use data collected by Land IQ. Land IQ uses a data-driven model developed for detailed, field-scale water use reporting. Land IQ calculates water use through evapotranspiration (ET), the amount of water consumed by the plant through evaporation and transpiration.
Land IQ determines field-level ET through ground measurements from approximately 90 Land IQ and other monitoring field stations to generate hourly ET data, which are then used as dependent variables in the modeling process. ET is reported based on consumptive use — what the plant actually absorbs — and not applied water, which is measured by gauges or meters. Nearly 40 GSAs or irrigation districts are utilizing Land IQ data.
Growers' water use in the East Kaweah GSA is monitored using Land IQ data, so it is beneficial for growers and landowners to use the Water Dashboard to maximize their involvement in achieving groundwater sustainability.