On June 10, 2022, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Valley Water Board) adopted Resolution No. R5-2022-0035, amending the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin for the Central Valley Region to remove the municipal and domestic supply (MUN) and agricultural supply (AGR) beneficial uses from groundwater within a designated horizontal and vertical portion of the southern region of the Lost Hills Oil Field.

Groundwater contained within the Lower Tulare Member and the Etchegoin Formation, at a depth of approximately 600 feet to 6,600 feet below ground surface (bgs), within Sections 14, 15, 22, 23, 26 and 27 of Township 27 South, Range 21 East, Mount Diablo Meridian, in the Lost Hills Oilfield, is not suitable, or potentially suitable, for municipal or domestic supply (MUN) or agricultural supply (AGR), including, but not limited to, AGR applications for irrigation, stock watering and support of vegetation for range grazing.

This Exemption does not extend to the Upper Tulare Member, which overlies the Lower Tulare Member and the Etchegoin Formation and is separated from the Lower Tulare Member by the Mid-Tulare Shale.

History

1. New section summarizing amendment to basin plan filed 5-28-2026; amendment approved by State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 2023-0040 on 11-7-2023; amendment approved by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11353 on 5-28-2026 (Register 2026, No. 22).