South Fork Kings GSA – Groundwater Allocation Policy FAQs

What is a groundwater allocation and how is it calculated?

A groundwater allocation is the amount of groundwater you are allowed to pump to help maintain the Subbasin in a sustainable condition by 2040. The Sustainable Yield Allocation is based on the total acres for your parcel as registered with Kings County. For the SFK GSA, the sustainable yield has been calculated at 0.86 acre-feet per acre (AF/ac).

What is the difference between Sustainable Yield and Transitional water?

• Sustainable Yield: This is the long-term base allocation that will keep the basin in a stabilized condition after 2040.
• Transitional Allocation: This is a temporary, declining buffer designed to allow landowners with existing irrigated lands to gradually reduce their pumping. Transitional water is allocated in five-year blocks and will decrease to zero by 2040.

Will everyone get the same allocation?

No. Allocations depend on parcel size and historical use:

• Parcels of 5 acres or larger are qualified to receive a portion of the total sustainable yield (currently 0.86 AF/ac).
• Parcels of 5 acres or less automatically receive a de-minimis allocation of 2 AF/year, unless they contain an extraction facility that pumps more than that and register as a qualified parcel.
• Transitional water is only allocated to parcels that Land IQ Crop Data shows were irrigated anytime between 2015 and 2024.

How will the GSA track how much water I use?

Your pumping is monitored quarterly using Land IQ data on evapotranspiration for your parcels, alongside estimated surface water deliveries. If you have metered wells, you may submit quarterly pumping reports as a substitute for the Land IQ analysis.

What happens if I go over my allocation?

Exceeding your allocation will result in civil penalties:

• Tier 1: Pumping Transitional Groundwater Tier I incurs a fee that is set annually by the SFK GSA Board.
• Tier 2: If you pump above your sustainable yield, your Tier I allocation, and any credits you hold, it is considered Tier 2 pumping. This incurs an overdraft penalty of $500 per acre-foot. Additionally, your allocation for the following year will be reduced by the exact amount of the overage.

Will unused allocation roll over or be banked?

Yes, but with restrictions. Your Sustainable Yield Allocation may be carried over for the next four calendar years, subject to a 5-year rolling retirement. However, Transitional water does not carry over; it must be used in the year it is allocated.

Can I transfer or trade my allocation?

• Sustainable Yield: You may transfer this to any other registered parcel you own, or to other registered qualified parcels within the SFK GSA without penalty. Transfers outside the SFK GSA are subject to strict conditions, must be within one mile of the boundary, must be part of the same farm unit, and require annual approval.
• Transitional Water: Transitional allocations cannot be transferred across water accounts.

What if my parcel doesn’t currently pump groundwater or is fallowed?

If your parcel receives a sustainable yield allocation but you do not irrigate that acreage, you can transfer that allocation to other actively irrigated parcels within the SFK GSA. Furthermore, if you present appropriate documentation to the GSA that a property is fallow, the evapotranspiration values for that parcel will be set to zero.

What are Landowner Developed Credits?

These are credits generated through water banking, recharge projects, or other approved projects that mitigate undesirable results in the SFK GSA. To protect the Subbasin, a designated percentage of the recharged water is “left behind” and will not be credited to your account.

Does my well’s zone (A, B, or C) matter?

Yes. Currently, the Sustainable Yield and Transitional allocations are specifically assigned to the B and C zones. The A-zone does not yet have a specific sustainable or transitional yield value assigned; instead, it is subject to a total combined pumping cap of 3.00 AF/ac annually for Water Years 2026 through 2030.

When do these rules and penalties take effect?

The policy is in effect upon Board approval. For Water Year 2026 (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026), pumping will be tracked to provide landowners with visibility, but no fees or penalties will be charged. Fees and penalties will be implemented and enforced starting in Water Year 2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027).

What if I disagree with my pumping report or allocation?

If you have meters, you may contest your Annual Land IQ pumping report and appeal to the GSA Board to reconcile your account at the end of the calendar year. Landowners who are denied eligibility for transitional allocations may also appeal the decision to the Board.