People are pumping water in the Kaweah basin faster than rain and other water sources can refill the basin, jeopardizing water sources people use for drinking and irrigation. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires local agencies to develop and implement groundwater sustainability plans that protect and manage groundwater resources for all uses and users. The groundwater plan for the Kaweah basin is inadequate and is not doing enough to protect local groundwater resources. SGMA now allows the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) to determine if the Kaweah basin should be designated as “probationary.” In a probationary basin, some groundwater pumpers must collect and report pumping data and pay fees to the Board, and local agencies must improve their plan. This encourages efforts to improve groundwater management and sustainability. The Board plans to hold a public hearing to consider designating the basin as probationary on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.