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Board Approves Data Sharing Agreements with North Fork Kings GSA, Westlands Water District

The Board approved entering into two agreements, one with the Westlands Water District and the second with the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency to share relevant data and to establish a set of common assumptions on groundwater conditions within five (5) miles of the boundary between the South Fork Kings GSA and these two neighboring agencies. The agreements support the effort to coordinate planning efforts with neighboring GSAs and subbasins.

Board Approves Preparation of Engineering Report for 218 Election

At a regular meeting held on September 21st, the South Fork Kings GSA Board approved a task order with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. to prepare an engineering report and to conduct a Prop 218 assessment election. The engineering report will include an analysis for the costs to prepare a Groundwater Sustainability Plan, costs for ongoing administration, and the recovery of startup costs incurred by the South Fork Kings member agencies. Components of the report include background information on the GSA, summary of GSA operations, a description of the proposed assessment, a determination of benefits derived from the assessment, and procedures to implement the assessment. The proposed timeline to complete the engineering report and conduct a 218 election is April 2018. The estimated cost to complete the entire process is $29,560.

In other business, the Board approved a task order in the amount of $18,000 with Geosyntec Consultants to conduct initial data assessment and modeling review along with reviewing the proposed scope of work to be included in a planning grant application for Proposition 1 funding.

Contract Approved with Geosyntec Consultants

The South Fork Kings GSA Board Members approved a contract with Geosyntec Consultants for technical engineering consulting services at a special board meeting held on August 17. The contract has two tasks. Task 1 is to provide general project management tasks through the end of Fiscal Year 2018. This task covers work for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2018, from August 17, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The budget for Task 1 is not to exceed $24,000.

Task 2 will be to assess the funding alternatives for GSP development and implementation. The Geosyntec team will prepare an analysis of current and future funding alternatives to meet the GSA’s obligations under SGMA. The funding strategy could include a combination of various Federal or State programs, new legislative opportunities that are created on periodic basis, and a Prop 218/Prop 26 special district election process. Task 2 covers work from August 17, 2017 to September 21, 2017. The estimated total fee for Task 2 is $8,000.

Board Supports Effort to Develop a Single GSP for the Tulare Lake Subbasin

At a special meeting on July 20, the South Fork Kings GSA Board of Directors approved entering into an agreement to facilitate a coordinated effort to develop and implement a single Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Tulare Lake Subbasin. The interim agreement creates a cost-share schedule and basic decision-making structure for the selection of a consultant to prepare a grant application. It is intended to be modified or replaced by a more comprehensive and longer-term coordination agreement following grant award recommendations later this year. The signatories to the agreement are South Fork Kings GSA, Mid Kings GSA, El Rico GSA, Southwest Kings GSA, Tri-County Water Authority, and Alpaugh Irrigation District.

Other actions by the Board included the approval of a $265,250 budget for fiscal year 2018 and the selection of Geosyntec Consultants to perform technical engineering services. Budget expenses include engineering services, legal costs, Tulare Lake Subbasin coordination, and administrative services including outreach. Geosyntec will support the South Fork Kings with planning and implementing of a Proposition 218 and/or Proposition 26 elections; oversee, manage and coordinate preparation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan; and other technical support including coordination with adjacent groundwater sustainability agencies.

SFK Board Approves Contract with Hydrogeological Consultant

At their June 15 Board meeting, the South Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board Members approved a contract with Aegis Groundwater Consulting. Aegis will provide initial hydrogeologic support needed related to the scoping of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan and coordination with adjoining GSAs to determine data quality objectives, data collection and verification procedures and other technical aspects related to the development of a hydrologic model for the subbasin.