Basin Planning

McKittrick Area Oil Fields Groundwater MUN and AGR Evaluation

Evaluation of Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) and Agricultural Supply (AGR) Beneficial Uses in Groundwater within An Area Adjacent to the Administrative Boundaries of the South Belridge, Monument Junction and Cymric Oil Fields in Kern County.

In order to ensure appropriate beneficial use protection, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Valley Water Board or Board) is evaluating for consideration an amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin (Tulare Lake Basin Plan) to potentially remove MUN and AGR designations from a horizontally and vertically delineated portion of the groundwater in an area adjacent to the administrative boundaries of the South Belridge, Monument Junction and Cymric Oil Fields in Kern County.

The Central Valley Water Board is continuing a multi-year process under which it is evaluating the beneficial uses assigned to surface and groundwaters by the Board's Basin Plans, including the Tulare Lake Basin Plan. As a part of that process, the Board is:

  • Evaluating whether groundwater within a portion of the area adjacent to the administrative boundaries of the South Belridge, Monument Junction and Cymric Oil Fields in Kern County actually supports the Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) beneficial use and determine if it is eligible for de-designation consistent with the Tulare Lake Basin Plan and State Water Board Resolution No. 88-63 (Sources of Drinking Water Policy).
  • Evaluating whether groundwater within a portion of the area adjacent to the administrative boundaries of the South Belridge, Monument Junction and Cymric Oil Fields supports the Agricultural Supply (AGR) beneficial use and determine if de-designation is appropriate.
  • Potentially De-designating the MUN and AGR beneficial uses from groundwater within an area adjacent to the administrative boundaries of the South Belridge, Monument Junction and Cymric Oil Fields where those beneficial uses have not been historically supported, are not currently supported and/or are not anticipated to be supported in the future.
  • Potentially considering the adoption of site-specific objectives where a full range of AGR beneficial uses (for example, irrigation of salt-sensitive crops using groundwater) have not historically been supported, are not currently supported and/or are not anticipated to be supported in the future within a portion of the area adjacent to the administrative boundaries of the South Belridge, Monument Junction and Cymric Oil Fields.

Central Valley Water Board Consideration of Adoption of Proposed Basin Plan Amendment at 12 December 2025 Central Valley Water Board Hearing

Proposed Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin To Remove the Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) and Agricultural Supply (AGR) Beneficial Uses from Groundwater Within a Designated Horizontal and Vertical Area Within and Surrounding the Administrative Boundaries of the South Belridge, Monument Junction and Cymric Oil Fields in Kern County Near McKittrick, California.

Public Comment Period for Draft Staff Report (Including Draft Environmental Documents) for a Proposed Amendment to the Tulare Lake Basin Plan (Basin Plan Amendment)

Independent External Scientific Peer Review

Per the requirements of California Health and Safety Code section 57004, Board staff requested an independent external scientific peer review of the scientific conclusions of a proposed amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin that is detailed in the Draft Staff Report for Scientific Peer Review dated September 2024.

Meetings

Copies of the documents not posted on this webpage are available upon request. To request a copy please contact Jennifer Fuller at Jennifer.Fuller@waterboards.ca.gov.

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