What Semitropic Water Storage District does

Semitropic Water Storage District is a public water district organized in 1958 under the California Water Code, headquartered in Wasco, Kern County, California. The district manages water conveyance and storage infrastructure for agricultural users within its service boundary and operates the Semitropic Groundwater Storage Bank, one of the world's largest groundwater banking programs. The district's position between the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) aqueducts allows it to receive surface water deliveries and store them in the underlying groundwater basin for later recovery, return, or in-district agricultural use.

The district's core product is groundwater storage and recovery services. Through the Semitropic Groundwater Storage Bank, the district contracts storage capacity to public water agencies, enabling partners to bank surplus surface water in wet years and recover it during droughts. Total storage capacity reaches approximately 1.65 million acre-feet, supplemented by the Stored Water Recovery Unit (SWRU), which adds up to 650,000 acre-feet of incremental recovery capacity. Beyond banking, Semitropic has expanded into floodplain storage, environmental stewardship, and integrated regional water management — including the Tulare Lake Storage and Floodwater Protection Project, the Poso Creek IRWM Group, and a 4,000-acre Habitat Conservation Plan. The district also holds a 6.67% ownership interest in the Kern Water Bank Authority, providing a diversified storage position.

Revenue is generated primarily through two streams: agricultural water service assessments from in-district irrigators, and usage-based fees from groundwater banking partners — including capacity allocation, recovery, and turnaround charges. Banking partners include Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (350,000 acre-feet), Santa Clara Valley Water District (350,000 acre-feet), Alameda County Water District (175,000 acre-feet), Newhall Land and Farming Company (75,000 acre-feet), San Diego County Water Authority, and Zone 7 Water Agency. As a non-profit public agency, the district reinvests revenue into regional water infrastructure and has completed approximately $151 million in water supply projects across its operating history.

Name

Semitropic Water Storage District

Legal name

Semitropic Water Storage District

Website

https://semitropic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Semitropic Water Storage District is a public California water district formed in 1958 that operates the Semitropic Groundwater Storage Bank — one of the world's largest groundwater banking programs with 1.65 million acre-feet of capacity — serving in-district agricultural users and major California water agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Management Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Storage & Conveyance Structures (Tanks, Reservoirs, Canals, Ponds) (AFAAACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Detention, Retention & Storage Systems (Ponds, Tanks, Vaults) (EUANAEAD), Irrigation Design, Installation & Maintenance Services (Engineering, Retrofit, Repair) (AFAAACAL)

Keywords

• Groundwater banking services
• Water storage infrastructure
• Agricultural water supply
• Aquifer recharge systems
• Floodwater management

Headquarters

HQ city

Wasco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Water Service: The district provides water for agricultural irrigation throughout the district, which covers portions of Kern County. Revenue is generated through water service fees paid by agricultural water users.
2. Groundwater Banking Services: Banking partners deliver surplus water to Semitropic for storage. Semitropic returns stored water when needed via pumpback (up to 90,000 acre-feet per year into California Aqueduct) or entitlement exchange. The district charges for storage capacity and water recovery services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Semitropic Water Storage District provides agricultural irrigation water service to farmers within Kern County and operates one of the world's largest groundwater banking programs, allowing banking partners to store surplus water during wet years and recover it during dry years via in-lieu or direct recharge through the California Aqueduct and State Water Project system. The district also delivers floodwater management, regional integrated water management, and environmental and energy management programs under public-agency authority.

Product overview

Semitropic Water Storage District operates a single integrated water management infrastructure with multiple components. The core offering is the Semitropic Groundwater Storage Bank (one of the world's largest groundwater banking programs) and its expansion — the Stored Water Recovery Unit (SWRU) — which together provide up to 1.65 million acre-feet of storage capacity and 423,000 acre-feet per year of dry-year water delivery. The district also runs the Tulare Lake Storage and Floodwater Protection Project for floodwater capture, the Poso Creek Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program for multi-district regional planning, and an Environmental Projects Portfolio covering solar energy, wetlands, wildlife, and habitat conservation. Customer-facing digital services include an Online Customer Service Portal (bill payment via e-Billexpress and water dashboard) and a Semitropic Groundwater Communication web platform. The district was formed in 1958 and has provided water for agricultural use since the 1970s.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Semitropic Groundwater Storage Bank: One of the largest groundwater banking programs in the world, capable of storing 1.65 million acre-feet of water.
• Stored Water Recovery Unit (SWRU)
• Tulare Lake Storage and Floodwater Protection Project
• Delta Wetlands Project
• Habitat Conservation Plan
• Goose Lake Project

Products and services

• Semitropic Groundwater Storage Bank One of the world's largest groundwater banking programs, allowing participating banking partners to store surplus water during wet years and recover it during dry years via in-lieu or direct recharge through the California Aqueduct and State Water Project.
• Stored Water Recovery Unit (SWRU) Second phase of the groundwater banking program that adds 650,000 acre-feet of storage capacity (bringing total to 1.65 million acre-feet) and increases recovery capacity by 200,000 acre-feet/year, enabling delivery of up to 423,000 acre-feet per year of dry-year yield to the California Aqueduct.
• Water Banking Partners Program A partnership program inviting public agencies, metropolitan sub-agencies, private investors, developers, and power companies to store water in the Semitropic Groundwater Bank and share the benefits of the Stored Water Recovery Unit.
• Tulare Lake Storage and Floodwater Protection Project Proposed project to construct south-of-Delta storage and conveyance features in historic Tulare Lake, capturing 81,000–120,000 acre-feet of Tulare Lake Basin floodwaters and expanding groundwater banking, providing local, regional, and statewide public benefits.
• Poso Creek Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Collaborative regional water management initiative led by Semitropic as the Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) governing body since 2005, involving multiple water districts and stakeholders to enhance water resources management through $151 million in completed planning, structural, and non-structural implementation activities.
• Environmental Projects Portfolio Suite of environmental programs including the Solar Energy Plant, Wildlife Improvement District, Mitigation Bank, Goose Lake wetland restoration project, Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and Delta Wetlands Project Place of Use, addressing ecosystem, wildlife, and environmental compliance across the district's service area.
• Water & Energy Management Services Water supply and demand management and energy supply and demand management services provided to agricultural users throughout the district in Kern County, including surface water management, groundwater management, and solar energy generation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.65 million acre-feet total storage capacity - enough water for 3.3 million households' yearly needs
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Valley Ag Water CoalitionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2008Lobbying organization on behalf of San Joaquin Valley agricultural interests. Executive Director Bob Reeb provides legislative support for groundwater storage issues and keeps agricultural position in front of politicians. District joined to influence water policy.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor banking partner with 350,000 AF allocation in original water bank (1.0 MAF total) plus 15,000 AF in SWRU (650,000 AF capacity). One of six current banking partners who have delivered approximately 700,000 acre-feet of water to Semitropic.
• Santa Clara Valley Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 350,000 AF allocation in original water bank (1.0 MAF total). One of six current banking partners.
• Alameda County Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 150,000 AF allocation in original water bank (1.0 MAF total). One of six current banking partners.
• Newhall Land and Farming CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 55,000 AF allocation in original water bank (1.0 MAF total). One of six current banking partners.
• San Diego County Water AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 30,000 AF allocation in original water bank plus 15,000 AF in SWRU. One of six current banking partners.
• Zone 7 Water AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 65,000 AF allocation in original water bank (1.0 MAF total). One of six current banking partners.
• Poso Creek Water Company, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 60,000 AF allocation in SWRU (Stored Water Recovery Unit) of 650,000 AF capacity.
• City of TracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 10,500 AF allocation in SWRU (Stored Water Recovery Unit).
• Homer, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 15,000 AF allocation in SWRU. Has lower priority rights in Antelope Valley Water Bank and SWRU.
• Harris Farms, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner with 10,500 AF allocation in SWRU (Stored Water Recovery Unit).
• Kern Water Bank AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSemitropic owns 6.67 percent of the Kern Water Bank, which is one of the two largest groundwater storage programs in the world (along with Semitropic's own program). Kern Water Bank is a neighboring facility.
• Ducks UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner in Goose Lake Project. Ducks Unlimited provides some funding, takes the lead in permitting, and provides technical assistance in developing prime wetlands. Semitropic provides additional funding, reliable water supply for duck clubs, and operation/maintenance expertise.
• Buttonwillow Land and Cattle Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partner in Goose Lake Project. BL&C owns the land, will provide land and manage duck club activity. The project uses the Goose Lake bed for prime wetland habitat and short-term surface storage of flood waters.
• North Kern Water Storage DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Poso Creek IRWM Group RWMG (Regional Water Management Group). Semitropic serves as Lead Agency of RWMG since its inception in 2005, noticing and hosting meetings and acting as Treasurer.
• Cawelo Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Poso Creek IRWM Group RWMG (Regional Water Management Group). The group has completed over $151 million in planning, project and program implementation activities.
• Shafter-Wasco Irrigation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Poso Creek IRWM Group RWMG (Regional Water Management Group). Contributes to regional water management planning and implementation.
• Kern-Tulare Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Poso Creek IRWM Group RWMG (Regional Water Management Group). Contributes to regional water management in Northern Tulare Lake region of Kern County.
• Delano-Earlimart Irrigation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Poso Creek IRWM Group RWMG (Regional Water Management Group). Contributes to regional water management planning and implementation.
• North West Kern Resource Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Poso Creek IRWM Group RWMG (Regional Water Management Group). Contributes to resource conservation in the region.
• South San Joaquin Municipal Utility DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Poso Creek IRWM Group RWMG (Regional Water Management Group). Contributes to municipal water management in the region.
• Self-Help EnterprisescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit that provides technical services and support for families and communities in lower socioeconomic areas. Works with IRWM Group to identify DAC (Disadvantaged Community) concerns and promote potential solutions. Nominates DAC Representative along with Community Water Center.
• Disadvantaged Community (DAC) RepresentativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElected member of governing RWMG who addresses issues and needs of economically disadvantaged communities. Currently Frank Ohnesorgen, Superintendent/Principal of Pond School District. DACs vote for nominated individual to represent their interests.
• California Department of Water ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStakeholder in Poso Creek IRWM Group. Operates the State Water Project and maintains IRWM Grant Program. Semitropic exchanges recovered banked water for release from Shasta Lake, Lake Oroville, and Millerton Lake for ecosystem benefits.
• U.S. Bureau of ReclamationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStakeholder in Poso Creek IRWM Group. Federal water resources agency that contributes to regional water management planning.
• Friant Water Users AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStakeholder in Poso Creek IRWM Group. Organization representing water users dependent on Friant-Kern Canal, which is near Semitropic's service area.
• GEI ConsultantscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGroundwater monitoring consultant serving on Semitropic's groundwater monitoring committee. Committee is comprised of representatives from Semitropic and adjacent districts sharing the groundwater basin, plus expert groundwater hydrologist consultant.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Santa Clara Valley Water District: Banking partner of Semitropic with 350,000 AF allocation and operates its own groundwater banking and surface water treatment facilities in Northern California. Comparable in groundwater banking activity but distinct service territory (Bay Area vs. Kern County).
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Largest water banking partner and customer of Semitropic, holding 350,000 AF in the original bank plus 30,000 AF in SWRU. Metropolitan itself operates major supply, treatment, and conveyance infrastructure but does not directly compete; the relationship is contractual banking.

Emerging players

• Cadiz Inc. California-based private water storage and supply company developing groundwater banking and conveyance projects in the Mojave Desert. Comparable business model (groundwater banking for urban/agricultural customers) but in a different geography and earlier commercialization stage.

Direct peers

• Arvin-Edison Water Storage District: Neighboring Kern County water storage district that operates groundwater banking and agricultural water supply infrastructure using similar in-lieu recharge techniques and the California Aqueduct. Comparable scale and customer base to Semitropic.
• Buena Vista Water Storage District: Kern County water storage district engaged in groundwater banking and surface water delivery to agricultural users. Comparable service model and Kern County geography to Semitropic.
• Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District: Kern County water storage district providing agricultural irrigation and groundwater banking services using the Cross Valley Canal. Operates with similar surface water exchange and groundwater recharge mechanisms as Semitropic.
• Dudley Ridge Water Storage District: California water storage district holding State Water Project entitlement and participating in groundwater banking programs (including allocations in SWRU at Semitropic). Comparable banking and agricultural water delivery model.
• Kern Water Bank Authority: Operates one of the two largest groundwater banking programs in the world in Kern County, California. Semitropic owns 6.67% of the Kern Water Bank Authority, and the two programs are co-located and operationally intertwined, serving similar banking partners with comparable in-lieu and direct recharge services.

Broad incumbents

• Westlands Water District: Largest agricultural water district in the United States, located in Fresno and Kings Counties. Provides surface and groundwater supply to farmers and operates groundwater recharge/banking infrastructure at materially larger scale than Semitropic, with overlapping customer profile.

Regional players

• Friant Water Users Authority: Stakeholder in Semitropic's Poso Creek IRWM and represents water users of the Friant-Kern Canal, which serves as part of Semitropic's surrounding water infrastructure network. Operates in adjacent geography with comparable agricultural water delivery mission.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/semitropic-water-storage-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Semitropic Water Storage District