If stakeholders in Kern County’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan want to avoid a state takeover, they’ll need to do a better job of monitoring and measuring pumping activity, avoiding land subsidence and setting minimal groundwater levels. On Friday, the State Water Resources Control Board considered placing the Kern County Sub-basin on probation, as had been recommended by the its water board staff. The board granted Kern County Groundwater Sustainability Agencies a continuance instead of probation, as they work to satisfy the water board’s demands. Probation would impose serious state oversight on Kern County water boards, something they want to avoid very much. 

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