This file photo from Arthur & Orum Well Drilling shows a crew drilling a new well near Huron in Fresno County.

Following a year of voluntary registration, the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) has introduced a requirement to register all wells by a Nov. 30, 2025, deadline.

Beginning May 1, all wells within the agency boundaries must be registered to avoid a $100 late registration penalty fee per well. This includes agricultural, industrial, private domestic (household), school district and public water system wells.

The North Kings GSA was formed in December 2016 through adoption of a joint powers agreement by the following public agencies: Fresno Irrigation District, the County of Fresno, the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis, the City of Kerman, Biola Community Services District, Garfield Water District and International Water District.

The policy was unanimously adopted at the April 24 North Kings GSA Board of Directors meeting.

Over the next six months, the GSA will host workshops, attend community events and offer support with a dedicated team to assist with registration efforts, according to a news release.

The first public announcement on well registration was published in November 2022 on the North Kings GSA’s website and in its email blast to stakeholders, recapping the Board’s approval of a contract to develop a registration portal. Since then, the GSA has continued to publish and distribute updates and information about registration.

The North Kings GSA was formed as a result of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a package of laws signed in 2014 that set out to address groundwater overdraft.

GSAs are responsible for implementing their groundwater sustainability plans (GSP) to balance groundwater levels.  The North Kings GSA’s has jurisdiction in parts of Fresno County, including the cities of Fresno, Clovis and Kerman.

By registering wells, landowners help keep decisions about how groundwater is managed in local hands, rather than in the hands of State regulators, according to the release.

“Our GSP was approved by the State on the condition that North Kings GSA continues to implement its plan and make course corrections along the way as needed. Our next steps involve filling data gaps through well registration to keep sustainability local,” said Kassy Chauhan, North Kings GSA executive officer.

If a subbasin cannot implement its GSP under state guidelines, the state will intervene and has shown by example in other regions that it will not hesitate to impose harsh pumping limitations, fees and reporting requirements, according to the release.

“Registering wells now helps us avoid those same consequences and protect our landowners’ interests,” said Chauhan.

Access to well data provided by landowners will be limited to the North Kings GSA management and its technical consultants conducting analysis on meeting sustainability criteria. The information will be used for the purpose of managing groundwater resources locally and addressing data gaps in the GSP. Well information remains anonymous, according to the release.

Landowners can register their wells through the online registration platform, Subcurrent. The North Kings GSA has a support team available to help landowners. Email or call the agency at (559) 693-5119 to receive assistance. Community residents who are part of a public water system do not need to register.