State Eyes 1.13 Million Acre Feet of Kings River Water
A state hearing set for January 2027 will weigh whether to lift a 1967 restriction that blocks new water permits on the Kings River.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Utilities
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Should the state open the Kings River to new water permit applications?
The State Water Resources Control Board's Administrative Hearing Office has identified up to 1.13 million acre feet of unused Kings River water. A hearing on January 19, 2027 will consider revoking the river's fully appropriated stream designation.
Why it matters
Revoking the 1967 designation would open the Kings River to new water permit applications, affecting how California allocates a scarce resource. The dispute traces back to 2017 applications from Semitropic Water Storage District and irrigation districts seeking flood flows.
Up to 1.13 million acre feet of Kings River water is going unused, according to the state water rights office. Semitropic's application seeks to divert 1,200 cubic feet per second during flood release into the California Aqueduct, with the outcome still pending.
The players
Semitropic Water Storage District
A water district in Kern County that filed a 2017 application to divert Kings River flood flows into its recharge project.
Water Resources Control Board
The California state board responsible for water rights and the authority that made the 1967 fully appropriated designation.
The details
Semitropic Water Storage District filed an application in 2017 seeking Kings River flood flows, and Consolidated, Alta and Fresno irrigation districts filed a joint application. McMullin Area Groundwater Agency filed a later application, and the last Administrative Hearing Office proceeding was held in 2024. Semitropic would hold diverted water in its flood water recharge project in Kern County.
Timeline
1967: Kings River designated as fully appropriated stream.
2017: Semitropic files application for Kings River flood flows.
2024: Last Administrative Hearing Office proceeding held.
January 19, 2027: Hearing on revoking the fully appropriated designation.
Roadmap
The 1967 designation was made only 13 years after Pine Flat Dam became operational, when the Water Board had limited information about Kings River flood flows. The 2027 hearing would revisit that decision using current data on unused river water.
If the designation is revoked, new water permit applications could be filed for Kings River flows, potentially affecting irrigation and groundwater supplies for agricultural users. Residents and ratepayers in the affected districts may see changes to water availability depending on the hearing outcome.
The takeaway
Watch the January 19, 2027 hearing if your water supply depends on the Kings River, since the outcome could open new allocations. Irrigation and groundwater planners should track the state's findings on the 1.13 million acre feet of unused flow.
What happens next
The Administrative Hearing Office will hold a hearing on January 19, 2027 on whether to revoke the Kings River fully appropriated stream designation.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Utilities news in California.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SJV Water.
Live Poll
Should the state open the Kings River to new water permit applications?
