The Water Association of Kern County will proudly present the Water Leader of the Year and Water Legacy Awards on Wednesday, November 5th, at its 2025 WAKC Annual Meeting to be held at Stockdale Country Club.
Every year WAKC presents the Water Leader of the Year and the Water Legacy Awards at the Annual Meeting. The Water Leader of the Year award is given to an individual who has shown significant contributions, leadership and integrity over the past year. This year, WAKC will present the 2025 Water Leader of the Year award to Valerie Kincaid. Kincaid is a partner at Paris Kincaid Wasiewski, LLP and represents public irrigation districts, water districts, groundwater sustainability agencies, and joint powers authorities at both the administrative and judicial levels. Kincaid represents
multiple Kern County water districts in various capacities. She was instrumental in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act process and has been a key player in getting Kern Subbasin across the finish line.
Robert Kunde is to be named as the 2025 Water Legacy Award winner. WAKC presents the Water Legacy Award to honor a recipient who spent their life working in water issues, demonstrated leadership and long-term commitment to Kern County water. Kunde is the former Engineer-Manager of the Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District, and is currently the District’s Retired Annuitant and Chair of the Reservoir Committee for the Sites Reservoir Project. During his over 35 years of service, Rob’s extraordinary breadth of knowledge, meticulousness, and persistent efforts have been instrumental in the success of many significant water projects benefitting Kern County, including the Kern Water Bank and, most recently during the last year, the Sites Reservoir Project. Rob’s thoroughness, attention to detail, pragmatism, and ability to ask probing and relevant questions has made him distinguished throughout Kern County and the state.
WAKC is grateful for their service and commitment to Kern County Water. Community members can join WAKC in honoring our award winners by purchasing tickets at www.wakc.com/upcoming-events/ before October 24th.
On September 17, 2025, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) determined that a probationary designation for the Kern County Subbasin was not necessary and that the Board would return the subbasin to the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) oversight after Board staff confirms the 2025 Final Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) are consistent with the Draft Kern County Subbasin GSPs (2025 Draft GSPs) and confirms that the three priority deficiencies have been adequately addressed.
On March 2, 2023, DWR determined that the Kern County Subbasin’s July 2022 GSPs were inadequate. DWR’s determination temporarily shifted primary regulatory oversight of the subbasin to the State Water Board. State Water Board staff reviewed the 2022 GSPs and 2024 revised GSPs and released a staff report of their findings prior to a February 20, 2025 hearing. At this hearing, the State Water Board considered a probationary designation for the Kern County Subbasin, ultimately continuing the hearing until September 17, 2025. The hearing continuation gave the groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) time to continue addressing the deficiencies in their GSPs. The GSAs submitted the 2025 Draft GSPs to the Board on June 20, 2025.
Board staff reviewed the 2025 Draft GSPs and produced a Staff Review and associated documents, linked below. Board staff will review the 2025 Final GSPs for consistency with the 2025 Draft GSPs and to confirm that the three priority deficiencies identified in the have been adequately addressed. If the deficiencies are satisfactorily resolved, Board staff will transmit a letter to DWR formalizing the return of the Kern County Subbasin to DWR’s oversight.Final Kern County Subbasin Resolution
On February 20, 2025, the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) held a public hearing to consider a probationary designation for the Kern County Subbasin under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). At the hearing, the Board members heard presentations from groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), Board staff, and other interested parties, and received public comments, before deciding to continue the hearing to September 17, 2025.
By continuing the hearing, the Board is providing more time for Kern County Subbasin GSAs to finish resolving identified deficiencies in their groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) before the Board members decide whether to designate the Subbasin as probationary. The Board’s resolution to continue the hearing requests that the Subbasin GSAs provide their revised draft GSPs by June 20, 2025, to allow the GSAs a reasonable additional period of time to correct the existing deficiencies and also give the Board time to evaluate and consider those draft plans in advance of the continued hearing date. At the continued hearing, the Board will provide another opportunity for public input in evaluating any updated GSPs that are submitted.
Continuation of Public Board Hearing
Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. In-Person Location
Joe Serna Jr. CalEPA Headquarters Building
1001 I Street, Second Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
The continued hearing will be conducted in accordance with the Notice of Public Hearing issued on July 25, 2024.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Additional information and details on how to participate will be sent to this email list in advance of the September 17, 2025, continued hearing date. The hearing will be webcast in English, Spanish, and Punjabi. Spanish and Punjabi interpretation will be provided. For language services other than Spanish and Punjabi, please contact 916-341-5254 or OPP-LanguageServices@waterboards.ca.gov.
MORE INFORMATION:
View the July 25, 2024 public notice in English or the public notice in Spanish for more background information.
Sign up for SGMA groundwater management email reminders and updates (this Listserv) at ly/SWRCB-email-subscriptions (under State Water Board General Interests).
On February20, 2025, the State Water Board will hold a publichearing to consider designating the Kern CountySubbasin as a probationary basin under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), as part of efforts to ensure groundwater resources will be available into the future for people to use.
Board staff have released the Final Kern County Subbasin Probationary Hearing Staff Report, outlining staff recommendations to the State Water Board. In developing their recommendations, staff considered materials submitted by the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) in the subbasin and the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) reviews of Groundwater Sustainability Plans submitted in 2020 and 2022, as well as public comments provided at public workshops and submitted in writing.
If the State Water Board designates the subbasin probationary, it will identify deficiencies (issues) and potential actions that the GSAs in the subbasin could take to address the deficiencies. If the subbasin is designated as probationary, the State Water Board will also identify which groundwater pumpers will need to report their groundwater extractions to the State Water Board and pay fees to the Board, separate from any reporting to and fees from the applicable GSA. The State Water Board may also require specific pumpers to install and use meters or other methods to measure their groundwater extractions.
How to Participate
The State Water Board will hold the public hearing at the time and location noted below. There are options to participate in person and remotely. If you are participating remotely and would like to make a public comment or are part of a panel presentation, follow the instructions in the hearing agenda to receive information to join the Zoom meeting. If you want to watch the hearing but do not wish to speak, the English, Spanish, and Punjabi webcasts of the public hearing can be accessed at https://video.calepa.ca.gov.
Public Board Hearing Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. In-Person Location
Coastal Hearing Room
Joe Serna Jr. CalEPA Headquarters Building
1001 I Street, Second Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Spanish and Punjabi interpretation will be provided. For language services other than Spanish and Punjabi, please contact 916.341-5254 or OPP-LanguageServices@waterboards.ca.gov.
Public Comments
Members of the public may submit written comments in advance of the public probationary hearing by contacting the Office of Sustainable Groundwater Management at SGMA-Kern@waterboards.ca.gov no later than 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 13, 2025. Please use the subject line: “Comments – Kern County Subbasin.”
The Amended Kern County Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) has been prepared by 20 GSAs and one coordinated groundwater management area during December of 2024.
The Subbasin is entirely contained within Kern County. Land use designations are predominantly agricultural and industrial oilfields, followed by urban, suburban and rural communities. The largest metropolitan area is a medium-sized urban population in the City of Bakersfield with suburban sprawl in the unincorporated Kern County. The Subbasin also has several small urban areas and rural communities. A comprehensive, multisource dataset is maintained to tabulate land uses across the entire Subbasin. The primary land uses in the Kern Subbasin are:
657,000 acres of active agriculture (36.2% of plan area)
600,000 acres of native land (33.1% of plan area)
256,000 acres of idle agriculture (14.1% of the plan area)
149,000 acres of urban, suburban, and rural communities (8.2% of the plan area)
91,000 acres of industrial oil fields (5.0% of the plan area)
62,000 acres of other uses (3.4% of the plan area)
All GSAs use the Kern County Subbasin GSP elements as its foundational Plan; however, six GSAs provide supplemental information that is inserted as blue pages throughout their GSP.
All documents can be found at the GSP webpage below.
BAKERSFIELD, CA – The Water Association of Kern County proudly presented its Water Leader of the Year and Water Legacy Awards Wednesday, November 6th, at its 2024 WAKC Annual Meeting held at Stockdale Country Club.
Board members and guests gathered for the 68th Annual Meeting and were excited to come together and surprise the award recipients. Jason Giannelli, 2023-2025 WAKC President, welcomed everyone to the Annual Meeting and introduced the evenings agenda. Guest Speaker, Senator Melissa Hurtado spoke about her perspective on water and shaping policy to better protect agriculture and urban communities.
Every year WAKC presents the Water Leader of the Year and the Water Legacy Awards at the Annual Meeting. The Water Leader of the Year award is given to an individual who has shown significant contributions, leadership and integrity over the past year. Jeevan Muhar, General Manager of Arvin-Edison Water District, presented the 2024 Water Leader of the Year award to Derek Yurosek. Yurosek is the current chair of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Coordination Committee for Kern County and is a key player in our SGMA process with the State Water Resources Control Board. Unfortunately, Derek was unable to join us for the evening, however he expressed his gratitude, “…Although I know I am receiving this award, I truly believe that this an award that goes to the entire Kern County Basin and the time, effort and passion that hundreds of people have given to protect our water and land. As we know the person that hold the award is a representation of everyone they engage with and I am blessed to have the best of class in all areas. I hope everyone is having a wonderful evening and I am truly honored and humbled. Thank you!”
Ernest Conant, the 2019 winner of our Water Legacy Award and retired USBR Region Director, presented the Water Legacy Award to honor a recipient who spent his life working in water issues, demonstrated leadership and long-term commitment to Kern County water. Conant presented the Water Legacy Award to Scott Kuney. Conant stated “Scott has dedicated his career to Kern County water over the past 40 plus years. As a 2nd generation Water Attorney, he learned from his father the great work he could do in water. I am proud to have had Scott as a colleague and friend.” Kuney was shocked and extremely grateful for the opportunity and expressed his appreciation to WAKC and the water community.
The evening was a remarkable testament to the longevity of service in the amazing individuals that represent our Kern County water community. We are grateful for their service and commitment to Kern County Water.
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) released the probationary hearing notice and Draft Staff Report for the Kern County Subbasin for public comment. The purpose of the Draft Staff Report is to inform the State Water Board as it considers whether to designate the Kern County Subbasin as a probationary basin consistent with the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The deadline for written comments on the probationary hearing draft staff report for the Kern County Subbasin is 12:00 noon on September 23, 2024.
If you would like to review the submitted 2024 GSP plan that is the latest plan to be submitted.
Virtual Staff Workshop Monday, August 26, 2024 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Staff presentation will start at 11:00 AM
Staff will begin accepting public comments at 12:15 PM
Zoom link: https://waterboards.zoom.us/j/95481583017
English and Spanish webcast of the virtual staff workshop with closed captioning will be
available at video.calepa.ca.gov. If you wish to ask a question or make a comment,
please join using the Zoom link.
In-Person Staff Workshop Thursday, August 29, 2024 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
(No internet viewing option; in-person only)
Staff presentation will start at 5:30 PM
Staff will begin accepting public comments at 7:00 PM
Hodel’s Country Dining: Liberty Hall
5917 Kundsen Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93308
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, the State Water Board will hold a public hearing to consider designating the Kern County Subbasin as a probationary basin under SGMA.
Please see the Probationary Hearing Notice for more information on how to participate in these events. Probationary Hearing Notice
Every summer, we organize a water awareness and conservation campaign named ‘Don’t be that Guy’. WAKC connects local purveyors together to engage in a county wide water conservation campaign. Combining efforts and resources to maximize impact for our county. May has been marked as Water Conservation Month by statewide agencies. As May is typically the state to summer, we like to remind residents leading into our summer months ‘Don’t be that Guy’ wasting water, and be aware of your water usage.
May kick starts our water awareness and conservation campaign that will include advertising, marketing and social media promotion. Annually, we participate in a combination of radio ads, tv segments, billboards, internet promotions and more to raise awareness of your water usage. The culmination of the ‘Don’t be that Guy’ campaign will be Water Day at the Kern County Fair on September 26th.
Throughout the summer and all year round, we urge our community to be aware of their water usage and the vital necessity it supplies to our industries.
Thank you for attending the Kern County Water Summit. We hope you enjoyed it and found it interesting. WAKC appreciates your support.
If you would like a copy of any of the PowerPoint presentations please email jenny@wakc.com
Please complete oursurvey to gather your feedback about the conference. Please take the time to fill it out so we can make the conference better next year. Survey link here
Thank you, again, for your attendance and support.
Kern County Water Agency Marks Historic Water Year 2023, Securing Water Supply for the Region
BAKERSFIELD —The Kern County Water Agency (Agency) announces the successful culmination of Water Year 2023. The year was marked by unprecedented water levels in the Kern River and record-breaking precipitation, securing water supply for the previously drought-stricken Bakersfield and neighboring communities. The Agency and the Water Association of Kern County collaborated in commemorating this historic water year with a visual narrative video entitled, “Charting The Course: Managing an Extraordinary Water Year 2023”.
What contributed to this remarkable water year? Notably, all water destined for Kern County remained in the county, benefiting the local community and economy. Local water managers enacted a collaborative and comprehensive plan spearheaded by the Kern River Watermaster. The plan to secure Kern River runoff involved seamless coordination with State, federal and local entities, including the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Additional contributing factors to the successful water year include increased spring runoff, strong snowpack and reservoir utilization. The spring runoff was an extraordinary 429 percent of the average, equating to approximately 1.8 million acre-feet (af) of water flowing into Lake Isabella. This surge comes after enduring years of drought, signifying a remarkable reversal in water availability. Local agencies effectively managed and retained the increased water within Kern County. These local agencies successfully recharged 600,000 af of water on the Kern Water Bank, surpassing the capacity of Lake Isabella. Within the 2023 calendar year, over 1,000,000 af of water was successfully recharged within Kern County, marking a significant achievement in water management and sustainability.
Nearly 2,270,000 af of water were derived from the snowpack, which reached 320 percent of the average, enough to fill Lake Isabella four times during the year. Recharge of this runoff into groundwater banking projects, , in turn, attracted a diverse population of up to 35,000 water birds.
The surplus water recharged will have a substantial economic impact, benefiting not only Kern County but also communities from the Bay Area to Southern California, who also store their water in Kern County.
Tom McCarthy, General Manager of the Kern County Water Agency, comments, “In an extraordinary water year, like the one California had in 2022-23, in order to secure what mother nature provided, you need an incredible amount of cooperation from the federal to the state to the local level, and that’s what we experienced this past year. People really rolled up their sleeves and worked together.”
A landowner whose property borders a river has a right to use water from that river on his land. This is called riparian rights.
Join the Water Association of Kern County
Help support education, outreach and information about water issues in Kern County.
The Water Association of Kern County is embarking upon a new, stronger effort to educate the general public about water issues that effect Kern County. A newly designed website, videos, Facebook and Twitter are all methods that will be used as a way of reaching the public. Messages will be simple and clear and provide many sources of information about water so that citizens and policy makers can become informed and be better decision makers. Learn More ▸
