Reporting and Fees

Who has to report their groundwater extractions to the State Water Board?

Any person that extracts or pumps groundwater from a probationary basin or from an area not managed under a local Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), known as an unmanaged area, in a groundwater basin must file an annual report of their groundwater extractions with the State Water Board. Some groups of groundwater pumpers and extractors are exempt from this reporting requirement, as detailed below in the following question, "Who doesn't need to report their groundwater extractions?"

Who doesn't need to report their groundwater extractions?

A well owner who extracts two acre‐feet or less of groundwater per year within a basin for domestic purposes only is known as a de minimis user of groundwater. The SGMA law calls such small domestic well owners “de minimis” users. De minimis users are exempt from groundwater extraction reporting in areas not managed under a local Groundwater Sustainability Agency, known as an unmanaged area. De minimis users may be exempt from reporting in probationary basins, but this will be determined for each individual basin at a State Water Board public hearing. The State Water Board can require reporting by de minimis users in probationary basins if necessary to sustainably manage the basin. The State Water Board may also choose to exclude a class or category of groundwater extractions from extraction reporting pursuant to Water Code section 10735.2(c).

An acre-foot is enough water to cover one acre of land with one foot of water. Most private users of domestic wells use less than two acre-feet of water per year. Domestic purposes do not include commercial activities.

Will I be notified if I have to report my groundwater extractions?

You are automatically required to file a groundwater extraction report to the State Water Board if you: (1) extract groundwater in an unmanaged area (not within the management area of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency), OR (2) extract groundwater in a probationary basin (extraction data collection starting 90 days after a probationary basin determination by the State Water Board) and do not meet one of the reporting exceptions described above.

The State Water Board plans to notify groundwater extractors of their groundwater extraction reporting requirements when those requirements become effective and in December of each year. If you are extracting groundwater from an unmanaged area and do not receive a notification letter to submit groundwater extraction information from the State Water Board, you are still required to file a groundwater extraction report. If you are unsure, please contact us at the phone number or email below.

View a map of unmanaged areas and visit the Groundwater Basins website for information on basins that are subject to state intervention. View an example of the notification of reporting requirements letter (PDF).

How do I measure my groundwater extractions?

The State Water Board has identified approaches for measuring extraction volumes. Please refer to the State Water Board's Options for Measuring Extraction Volumes (PDF).

When do I start measuring my groundwater extractions?

For unmanaged area groundwater extractors, you must start measuring your groundwater extractions from the effective date of when your area is unmanaged (not within the management area of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency). For probationary basin reports, you must start measuring your extractions 90 days after the State Water Board decides, at a public hearing, to put your basin on probation.

What information has to be reported?

Annual groundwater extraction reports must identify well owner information, well location, well capacity, monthly extraction volumes, place(s) of use, and purpose(s) of use. Information is reported in the State Water Board’s Groundwater Extraction Annual Reporting System (GEARS) web portal (see below) via a User Form and a Well Form. Groundwater extraction volumes must be measured by a method satisfactory to the State Water Board.

Please review the State Water Board's Options for Measuring Extraction Volumes (PDF) regarding options for measuring groundwater extraction volumes. If a groundwater extractor chooses to use a different approach than is outlined in this guide, the device or method used must be satisfactory to the State Water Board. Please refer to the guide for more information.

How are groundwater extraction reports filed?

Groundwater extraction reports must be filed online through the State Water Board's online Groundwater Extraction Annual Reporting System (GEARS) web portal (see below). To submit your annual extraction report, you must register an account with GEARS, plot and describe your well(s) and extracted groundwater use, and then enter your monthly groundwater extractions.

Tutorial videos for GEARS are available for:

• Registering for a GEARS account
• Plotting and describing your well(s) and extracted groundwater use in GEARS
• Submitting your groundwater extraction report in GEARS

When are groundwater extraction reports due?

Groundwater extraction reports are due by December 1 of each year for groundwater extractions made during the previous water year (Oct. 1 – Sep. 30) while a basin is in probationary status.

Why do I have to pay a fee when I submit my groundwater extraction report?

Any person that is required to file a groundwater extraction report to the State Water Board is also required to pay fees. As required by law, the State Water Board is required to set extraction fees to recover the cost of State intervention activities in groundwater basins.

How did the State Water Board establish extraction fees?

The State Water Board established the extraction fees through an emergency regulation that implements the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The emergency regulation was initially adopted in 2017 and is amended on an as-needed basis, usually on the annual Water Rights Fees emergency regulations schedule. Visit the Westlaw website for the current emergency regulation including the extraction fee regulation.

How much do I need to pay?

The current annual fee for groundwater extractions, where required generally includes a base fee of $300 per well plus either:

1. $25 per acre-foot of water extracted in an unmanaged area, or
2. $20 per acre-foot of water extracted in probationary basins.

De minimis extractors are generally not required to pay these fees. Unmanaged area extractors may be eligible for reduced fees if they are using a certified meter. Late reporters are subject to late fees and may be subject to additional administrative liability or misdemeanor penalties.

The Groundwater Extraction Fees table below outlines the current extraction fees that reporters are required to pay to the State Water Board when they submit their annual groundwater extraction reports.

How often do I need to pay my extraction fees?

Fees are collected after each annual groundwater extraction report that is due to the State Water Boardfor the preceding water year (October 1-September 30). Reporting begins no earlier than 90 days after a basin is put on probationary status and is required for any portion of the water year that a basin is in probationary status. An invoice will be mailed to you after February 1. Fees are due to the State Water Board by April 1 or 30 days after the invoice issue date – whichever is later.