The Kings Basin Water Authority
Integrated Approach to Water Management Solutions
About KWBA
Governance
Boundary Map
Who We Are
The Kings Basin Water Authority (KBWA) also known as the Upper Kings Basin Integrated Regional Water Management Authority was established in 2009 and includes nearly 60 public, private and non-governmental organizations that have joined together to implement an Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) to help protect and improve the water resources within the region.
The KBWA is a joint powers authority comprised of representatives of each organization that serve on the Board of Directors, Advisory Committee, and specific workgroups to implement the IRWMP. From large governmental agencies to grassroots non-profit organizations, the KBWA has involved and engaged stakeholders from varied interests to come together to develop and implement a plan to sustain the Region’s water resources.
Covering portions of Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties and located at the northern edge of the Tulare Lake Hydrologic Region, the KBWA’s region includes just over 1.1 million acres, stretching over nearly all of the Kings Groundwater Subbasin and small portions of the Delta-Mendota, Kaweah and Tulare Lake Subbasins. One of the world’s most productive agricultural areas, the region also includes a large metropolitan area, as well as several small, rural communities.
What is IRWM?
The Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program, administered by the California Department of Water Resources, is a statewide voluntary water planning and implementation program established in 2002 to incentivize regional collaboration among multiple water agencies and stakeholders to address multiple water needs on a regional scale and advance the implementation of multi-benefit projects. IRWM crosses jurisdictional, watershed, and political boundaries; involves multiple agencies, non-profit organizations, other groups and interested individuals; and attempts to address the issues and differing perspectives of the stakeholders involved to achieve mutually beneficial solutions.
Ongoing Projects
See All Ongoing Projects
Our Impacts
and Outcomes
Over the past decade, the Kings Basin Water Authority has brought in over $70 million in State and private grant funding to the region. This funding has been leveraged into over $122 million for planning and expanding local water management projects. Below are a few recent contracts/projects completed:
