B. Description of Proposed Boundary Modification

1. Short Description

   Modify the subbasin boundary to correct small segments that divide various local jurisdictions.
2. Type of basin boundary revision

   • Jurisdiction Internal
3. Provide a narrative overview of the boundary modification request and how the resulting modification would affect likelihood of sustainable management.

   Kings River Conservation District proposes to modify the Kings Subbasin boundary as follows: A) Detach a portion of the narrow southern tail running between the Westside and Tulare Lake Subbasins re-drawing it to follow the northern boundary of John Heinlen Mutual Water Company to its junction with the South Fork Kings River, and B) Modify the southeastern boundary so that it runs along the Fresno and Kings County line in Alta Irrigation District detaching the Kings County portion of Alta ID to the Tulare Lake Subbasin. The proposed modifications simplify the boundary by snapping it to existing jurisdictional lines and reconciling small pieces of land that, from a jurisdictional standpoint, could prove to be difficult for overlying water agencies to manage in accordance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA). At a regional scale, the proposal roughly preserves the Kings Subbasin's existing shape and size. The proposed adjustments do not significantly impact previous and ongoing groundwater management efforts in the region.

   Attachment(s):
4. List the existing basin(s)/subbasin(s) to be modified by this request

   • 5-022.08 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - KINGS
5. Provide the proposed name for the new basin(s) or subbasin(s)

   N/A

C. Initial Notification and Combination of Requests

1. Was an initial notification submitted to the Department?

   Yes
   List of submitted initial notification for the selected basin(s)/subbasin(s).

   Local Agency	Potential Basin(s)/Subbasin(s)
   Kings River Conservation District	5-022.09 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - WESTSIDE , 5-022.12 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - TULARE LAKE , 5-022.08 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - KINGS , 5-022.07 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - DELTA-MENDOTA
   	5-022.08 SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - KINGS

2. Does this application include a combination of requests?

   No

D. Required Documents for All Modifications

1. A copy of the statutory or other legal authority under which the requesting agency was created with specific citations to the provisions setting forth the duties and responsibilities of the agency.

Attachment(s):

• KRCD ACT.pdf (7.6MB) Uploaded on 02/11/2016 at 10:59AM

2. A copy of the signed resolution adopted by the requesting agency formally initiating the boundary modification request process.

Attachment(s):

• KRCD Resolution 16-02.pdf (787.5kB) Uploaded on 02/11/2016 at 10:59AM

3. A map of adequate scale (no greater than 1:24,000; e.g., 1:10,000 is not acceptable) showing the proposed modified basin boundary in relation to the existing Bulletin-118 basin boundary and the local agencies that are within or bordering the existing and proposed basin.

Attachment(s):

• KingsSubbasin proposal KRCD detail map.pdf (2.9MB) Uploaded on 03/14/2016 at 01:57PM
• KingsSubbasin proposal KRCD overview map.pdf (3.6MB) Uploaded on 03/14/2016 at 01:57PM

4. A GIS shapefile of the proposed modified groundwater basin boundaries. Download Existing B118 basin shape file | DWR Spatial Data Standards

Attachment(s):

• KingsSubbasin_proposed_KRCD.zip (63.1kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 08:26AM

5. A GIS shapefile of the political boundaries of any affected or adjacent local agency. Download water agency shape file

Attachment(s):

• KRCD_KingsSubbasin_mod_agencies_Teale.zip (157.1kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 10:22AM

6. Any information, if necessary, to enable DWR to satisfy the requirements of a responsible agency pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.

Does not qualify as a project under CEQA.

E. General Information

1. Describe the lateral boundaries of the alluvial aquifer or aquifers that form the groundwater basin and the definable bottom of the basin. The description must be in terms that are clear, definite, and sufficiently detailed to allow an authoritative map of the proposed basin boundaries to be plotted using the given description.

A proposed description of the lateral boundaries is attached. No changes to the current definition of the definable bottom of the Kings Subbasin are being proposed.

Attachment(s):

• Kings Subbasin proposed modifcation description for submission.pdf (95.6kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 08:27AM

F. Notice and Consultation

1. List all local agencies and public water systems affected by the basin(s) modification request.

Alta Irrigation District, Consolidated Irrigation District, Kings County Water District, Kings River Conservation District, County of Kings, John Heinlen Mutual Water Company (private)

2. Explain the methods used to identify interested local agencies and public water systems in the affected basin(s):

In addition to close coordination with agencies involved in ongoing regional groundwater planning efforts, GIS files were obtained from multiple sources including counties, county LAFCos, cities, districts and State agencies. These files were overlaid on a map of the existing subbasins. Included and adjacent agencies were identified and contacted one by one to educate them on the proposal, solicit their input and to gauge their interest in other related areas of the SGMA planning process.

3. Provide information regarding the nature of consultations with affected or interested agencies. Attach and cite any copies of correspondences with local agencies and public water systems and/or any other persons or entities consulted.

As was explained earlier, KRCD identified and then contacted all impacted agencies one by one to educate them on the proposal, to solicit input and to gauge interest in other related areas of the SGMA planning process. A webpage ( www.kingsgroundwater.info ) was developed which contains detailed information on the proposal, including an interactive GIS map that allows interested agencies and the public the ability to review existing and proposed boundaries at a regional scale as well as at a highly detailed local scale. Countless emails and phone calls were exchanged over the past year between KRCD staff and various impacted parties. KRCD also coordinated over a dozen face-to-face meetings with local overlying and adjacent interests to work through questions and concerns pertaining to certain areas of the proposal.

Attachment(s):

• KCWD support for Kings Subbasin Boundary Modification Proposal.pdf (24.2kB) Uploaded on 03/15/2016 at 03:48PM
• Alta ID letter for Kings County overlap.pdf (316.3kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 08:29AM
• JHMWC LCIC JRWC SID Support Kings Subbasin Boundary Modification Proposal.pdf (18.4kB) Uploaded on 03/09/2016 at 02:34PM

4. Provide a summary of all public meetings at which the proposed boundary modification was discussed or considered by the requesting agency. Attach and cite any copies of agendas and notices published.

A public hearing was noticed and held on January 27, 2016, at Fresno Irrigation District. Included is proof of publication of the notice in a local newspaper and copies of the sign-in sheet, agenda and materials from the hearing. Below is a link to the webpage where notice of the hearing was also published. No public comments were received during or following the public hearing. *** http://kingsgroundwater.info/sgma-legislation/groundwater-basin-boundary-modifications/ KRCD staff has also presented the boundary modification proposal in front of representatives of each of the five (5) Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) groups that overlie the subbasin, to the Fresno County SGMA Working Group and has hosted more than two dozen one-on-one meetings with interested agencies and overlying private land owners.

Attachment(s):

• SGMA Overview Handout 10-27-15.pdf (865.7kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 08:31AM
• FAQ KB Handout 10-27-15.pdf (139.5kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 08:31AM
• Boundary Mod Hearing Agenda (Kings).pdf (44.1kB) Uploaded on 03/21/2016 at 09:35AM
• KB public meeting notice Proof 2209196_official.pdf (848.2kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 08:30AM
• KB public meeting sign in.pdf (360.6kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 08:30AM

5. Attach a copy of all comments regarding the proposed boundary modification received by the requesting agency and a summary of any responses made by the requesting agency.

No formal comments have been received at this time. All impacted local agencies were directly involved in the iterative modification process and opted to provide informal input that was incorporated by KRCD into the final proposal.

G. General Existing Groundwater Management

1. Explain how sustainable groundwater management exists or could likely be achieved in the basin:

In cooperation with regional partners, the KRCD recently completed the development of a hydrologic model for the Kings Subbasin which fully covers the proposed boundary. Also overlying the proposed boundary is the Kings Basin Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (Kings IRWMP) and five (5) SB-1938 Groundwater Management Plans (GWMPs) which coordinate on regional implementation through a memorandum of understanding. These efforts within the proposed subbasin area have forged a strong foundation for SGMA implementation through the building of relationships, coordinated data collection, technical studies and regional planning.

2. Explain how the proposed boundary modification would affect the ability of adjacent groundwater basins to sustainably manage groundwater in those groundwater basins.

The proposed modifications seek to contiguously distribute most agencies so that they are contained entirely within either the Kings or Tulare Lake Subbasins. Taking such action will reduce the number of subbasins and GSAs several agencies would alternatively need to coordinate with. Any remaining overlaps have been discussed and agreed to amongst all impacted agencies.

3. Provide a historical summary of the sustainable management of groundwater levels in the proposed basin(s) or subbasin(s).

Since 1964 the Kings Subbasin has lost over 8 MAF of groundwater. In some areas of the subbasin groundwater elevations have dropped more than 100 feet in that same period of time while in other areas elevations have only dropped by about 10 ft. Local agencies have actively monitored groundwater conditions for many years and have begun to develop groundwater recharge and banking projects to mitigate chronic overdraft. In wet years the aquifer rebounds considerably, however periods of drought have resulted in a net average annual overdraft of more than 135 TAF that newly formed GSAs will be required to address.

Attachment(s):

• Kings_Subbasin_ChangeInStorage.pdf (205.1kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 10:01AM
• Kings_Subbasin_Historic_GWLevels.pdf (1.7MB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 10:11AM

4. Discuss potential impacts to state programs resulting from the proposed boundary modification, including, but not limited to, the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM), Groundwater Management Plans developed pursuant to AB 3030, Groundwater Sustainability Plans developed pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, any applicable state or regional board plans, and other water management and land use programs.

The proposed boundary modification will have only a nominal impact on various state programs, including California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM), local GWMPs and the Kings Basin IRWMP, and various Central Valley modeling and monitoring programs. It is believed that these changes will not significantly change historical regional calculations of water storage and water quality conditions. However, over time these efforts will require investments of time and resources towards adoption of the new boundary.

H. Local Support

1. Provide any evidence that sufficient information was provided to affected agencies and systems regarding the proposed boundary modification.

In addition to the meetings, emails and phone calls over the last year, KRCD created and updated the website linked to below. KRCD also sent a mass email notifying the identified agencies in the Kings and Tulare Lake Subbasins of the schedule and current (at the time) boundary descriptions and proposals. http://kingsgroundwater.info/sgma-legislation/groundwater-basin-boundary-modifications/

Attachment(s):

• SGMA email.pdf (632kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 09:16AM

2. Provide a list of all affected agencies and affected systems that submitted comments and/or documents in support or opposition to the proposed boundary. The agency submitting their support or opposition for a boundary modification must provide a copy of a resolution formally adopted by the decision-making body of the affected agency or system or a letter signed by an executive officer or other official with appropriate delegated authority who represents the agency or system. Attach copies of the resolution and/or signed letter detailing the support or opposition submitted.

County of Fresno and Kings County Board of Supervisors have provided letters of support (attached). Other agencies have offered to provide similar letters as deemed necessary by DWR.

Attachment(s):

• KRCD Letter of Support from Fresno County.pdf (414kB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 08:34AM
• Kings County Board of Supervisors support.pdf (844.4kB) Uploaded on 03/09/2016 at 02:33PM

3. Provide any evidence that rebuts any opposition to the proposed boundary modification.

No opposition is known to exist at this time.

I. Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model

1. Principal aquifer units within requested basin.
2. Lateral boundaries of the proposed basin, including:
   1. Geologic features that significantly impede or impact groundwater flow.
   2. Aquifer characteristics that significantly impede or impact groundwater flow.
   3. Significant geologic and hydrologic features and conditions of the principle aquifer units, as appropriate, including information regarding the confined or unconfined nature of the aquifer, facies changes, truncation of units, the presence of faults or folds that impede groundwater flow, or other groundwater flow restricting features.
   4. Key surface water bodies, groundwater divides and significant recharge sources.
3. Recharge and discharge areas within the basin.
4. Definable bottom of the basin or subbasin.

The department may waive this requirement for an internal boundary modification if the requesting agency is able to demonstrate that the proposed boundary modification is unlikely to affect sustainable groundwater management.

KRCD requests a waiver of this requirement as the proposed modification does not include hydrogeologic features that would significantly impact the ability to sustainably manage groundwater in either the Kings or Tulare Lake Subbasins. To demonstrate hydrogeologic understanding of the subbasin, attached is a report documenting the development of a local groundwater and surface water model which covers the proposed boundary.

Attachment(s):

• Kings IGSM Model Development and Calibration Report_111207.pdf (129.8MB) Uploaded on 02/22/2016 at 09:30AM

L. Technical Studies for All Jurisdictional Modifications

1. A water management plan that covers or is in the immediate vicinity of the proposed basin or portion of the proposed basin and satisfies the requirement of Water Code sections 10753.7(a) or 10727 by attaching one of the following:
   1. An adopted groundwater management plan, a basin wide management plan, or other integrated regional water management program or plan.
   2. Management pursuant to an adjudication action.
   3. One or more technical studies that cover the relevant portion of a basin or subbasin and adjacent areas.

URL: http://kingsgroundwater.info/groundwater-planning-reports/

2. A statement of the existing and planned coordination of sustainable groundwater management activities and responsibilities where required.

Currently GSA formation efforts in the Kings Subbasin are dovetailing off of five existing AB 3030 / SB 1938 GWMPs and the intra-basin coordination of those plans. Representative agencies whom are participating in each of the five GSA groups are signatory to a Kings Subbasin SGMA Coordination MOU and meet monthly to discuss topics of mutual interest. KRCD staff facilitates this group and also regularly attends individual GSA formation group meetings throughout the subbasin. At this time it is believed that the subbasin will be managed by multiple GSAs and multiple GSPs coordinated through legal agreement.