Native Yield set and upcoming changes
Looking ahead to Allocation Year 2025, several key changes were approved at the July 25th Board Meeting impacting groundwater allocations in the East Kaweah GSA. The Board of Directors with the input of the GSA’s committees, staff, and technical consultants voted to approve these adjustments in advance to give growers the opportunity to make informed decisions and plan accordingly before Allocation Year 2025 begins on October 1, 2024.
Native Yield allocation
The allocation has been adjusted from the current allocation year amount, 0.85 acre-feet per acre, to 0.82 for Allocation Year 2025. This reduction reflects ongoing efforts to balance groundwater use. By fine-tuning the native allocation, the East Kaweah GSA aims to better manage the region’s groundwater resources and meet the State’s expectations for balancing supplies without causing undesirable results. The GSA also aims to ensure there is groundwater for future use while protecting the long-term health of the aquifer.
Precipitation credit rate
The precipitation credit rate was adjusted from 92% of precipitation measured by evapotranspiration (ET) in previous allocation years to 80% to better account for the variability in rainfall over time. With the new rate, the precipitation credit for Allocation Year 2025 is 0.73 acre-feet per acre and was calculated based on a 25-year historical rainfall average of 11.01 inches, or 0.92 feet (80% x 0.92 feet = 0.73 feet).
Over time, it is anticipated the precipitation credit rate will continue to adjust so groundwater allocations are aligned with actual long-term water availability trends.
Moving away from a transitional supply
One significant change this year is the elimination of the “transitional” water supply allocations, such as Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplies, which were previously used to ease the transition for growers to a more regulated water allocation system. Transitional allocations acted as a buffer for gradually reducing water availability to help growers adapt to new regulations. This year, the focus has shifted to allocating only native yield supply.
The decision to move away from transitional supply is rooted in the need for sustainable groundwater management. Allocating to the native yield is a primary way the East Kaweah GSA area will avoid undesirable results (groundwater storage reduction, chronic lowering of groundwater levels, subsidence) and meet the State’s expectations for sustainable outcomes. This shift is essential for ensuring that the East Kaweah GSA hits its milestones and fully complies with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). By focusing on native yield, the East Kaweah GSA is committed to maintaining long-term water sustainability and protecting the region’s groundwater resources for future generations.
If you have questions or concerns about the recent changes to the allocation process, please contact the GSA by calling 559-697-6095 or by emailing groundwater@ekgsa.org.