Subsidence Management Plan (Tulare Lake Subbasin - Tulare Lake Management Area)
Summary
SCH Number
2025050212
Public Agency
Tri-County Water Authority
Document Title
Subsidence Management Plan (Tulare Lake Subbasin - Tulare Lake Management Area)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/6/2025
Document Description
The Project is the adoption of a Subsidence Management Plan for the Tulare Lake Subbasin – Tulare Lake Management Area. Tri-County Water Authority (“TCWA”) Groundwater Sustainability Agency adopted groundwater sustainability plans (“GSPs”) for the Tule Subbasin on December 18, 2019, and for the Tulare Lake Subbasin on January 22, 2020, consistent with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (Water Code §10720 et seq.) (“SGMA”). The Tule and Tulare Lake Subbasins (collectively, “Subbasins”) are located within the San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Basin.
The GSPs recognize that the Subbasins are in a state of overdraft and undesirable results, including land subsidence, must be addressed pursuant to SGMA. In approving the Project, the TWCA Board of Directors (“Board”) exercised its flexible management authority in the Tulare Lake Subbasin GSP to ensure that undesirable results of the Tulare Lake Subbasin, including subsidence, are addressed within SGMA’s sustainability timeframe. The Project has been prepared to address subsidence across the Tulare Lake Management Area. The Project’s purpose is to establish enforceable management actions to address subsidence and avoid exceeding the Tulare Lake Subbasin GSP’s established minimum thresholds related to land subsidence in the Tulare Lake Management Area.
Contact Information
Name
Staci Wilkins
Agency Name
Tri-County Water Authority
Job Title
Board Secretary
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project / Responsible Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Allensworth and other unincorporated areas
Counties
Kings, Tulare
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
All parcels within Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) boundary
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7, Guidelines section 15307 and Class 8, Guidelines section 15308
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA Guidelines Section 15307 categorical exemption (Class 7 - Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources) applies to actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 categorical exemption (Class 8 - Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) applies to actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
TCWA reviewed the Project and determined that it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3), 15307 and 15308. TWCA’s Board exercised its flexible management authority to ensure that all undesirable results of the Tulare Lake Subbasin, including subsidence, are addressed within SGMA’s sustainability timeframe. The Project has been prepared to address subsidence across the Tulare Lake Management Area. The Project’s purpose is to establish enforceable management actions to address subsidence and avoid exceeding the Tulare Lake Subbasin GSP’s established minimum thresholds related to land subsidence in the Tulare Lake Management Area.
TCWA reviewed the Project and determined that none of the exceptions to categorical exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 were applicable.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Common Sense Exemption, Guidelines section 15061 (b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) provides that where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is exempt from CEQA.
TCWA reviewed the Project and determined that it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3), 15307 and 15308. TWCA’s Board exercised its flexible management authority to ensure that all undesirable results of the Tulare Lake Subbasin, including subsidence, are addressed within SGMA’s sustainability timeframe. The Project has been prepared to address subsidence across the Tulare Lake Management Area. The Project’s purpose is to establish enforceable management actions to address subsidence and avoid exceeding the Tulare Lake Subbasin GSP’s established minimum thresholds related to land subsidence in the Tulare Lake Management Area.
County Clerks
Kings, Tulare
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.