Modifying the Regulations for the Groundwater Allocation Program and Use of Groundwater within the Westside Subbasin (Regulations)

The Westlands Water District is implementing modifications to the regulations governing the Groundwater Allocation Program and the use of groundwater within the Westside Subbasin. This effort is designed to support the implementation of projects and management actions outlined in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, adhering to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Specifically, the project involves updating Section 1.21 to address revisions to rules and regulations during public meetings, utilizing language developed from input received during the August 2025 Board meeting. The project is located district-wide across western Fresno and Kings Counties. According to filings dated September 2025, the initiative has been declared exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under statutory and categorical exemptions, as no significant environmental impacts are anticipated. Administrative actions include the filing of a Notice of Exemption and the payment of associated county documentary handling fees to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.