Groundwater Management

California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) provides a statewide framework for local groundwater management in California. Passed in 2014, the landmark legislation requires newly formed groundwater agencies to write and adopt Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP) to improve groundwater conditions. Below are some resources to aid in understanding the implications of SGMA. I provide information here regarding: (1) the content of a groundwater sustainability plan, (2) the costs associated with different management strategies for achieving groundwater sustainability, and (3) the implications for agriculture.

Groundwater Sustainability Plans

Groundwater Exchange is a collaborative online platform to share information related to the implementation of SGMA.

Stakeholders have an opportunity to influence this process. Here’s a sample public comment submitted to the North Kings GSA considering the potential impacts to small farms.