Sustainable groundwater plans could be a costly endeavor for local groundwater agencies to put together and present to the state.
Local water entities have until 2017 to form and establish their local management areas. Tulare County Farm Bureau Executive Director Tricia Stever-Blattler says the next step will be hard work for these groups and could cost a lot of money.
Department of Water Resources
For the first time in California history, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) empowers local agencies to adopt groundwater management plans that are tailored to the resources and needs of their communities. Good groundwater management will provide a buffer against drought and climate change, and contribute to reliable water supplies regardless of weather patterns. California depends on groundwater for a major portion of its annual water supply, and sustainable groundwater management is essential to a reliable and resilient water system. The California Groundwater website offers links and news from state, local and non-governmental agencies. Read more here.
2015 Amendments
An updated copy of the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Legislation includes 2015 amendments that clarify requirements for groundwater sustainability agency formation, the process for State Water Board intervention if no responsible agency is specified for a basin, guidelines for high- and medium-priority basins, and participation of mutual water companies in a groundwater sustainability agency. This easy to read version of the legislation has a user-friendly table of contents and section headings.