The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) returned the Kern County Subbasin to the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) jurisdiction under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) on December 8, 2025. On September 17th, the State Water Board approved Resolution No. 2025-0029 directing the Board’s Office of Sustainable Groundwater Management staff to send a letter to DWR formalizing the return of the Kern County Subbasin to DWR’s jurisdiction.

Other groundwater news around the West:

• Red Bluff Daily News (Calif.): Opinion: SGMA input hangs by thread in Tehama County 
• Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Opinion: Arizona groundwater deserves better treatment plan