Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 659 as a means for improving groundwater recharge efforts. The legislation known as the California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023 was authored by Senator Angelique V. Ashby. It was co-sponsored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG). This bill empowers the Newsom Administration and future governors to implement long-term strategies, including regulations and funding, to address the impacts of climate change on the state’s water supply.
“SB 659 represents the most significant effort since creation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in 2014, in emphasizing the supply side of managing groundwater,” CAWG President Natalie Collins said in a press release. “CAWG thanks Governor Newsom and Senator Angelique Ashby for their leadership in helping to secure California’s water future.”
The legislation was supported by a coalition of 52 organizations representing a variety of different interests, including the Regional Water Authority (RWA). It will take effect on January 1, 2024. Through the bill, the California Department of Water Resources is to provide actionable recommendations for additional opportunities to recharge groundwater basins. By prioritizing groundwater recharge, the bill addresses water-related concerns and ensures a more secure water supply in the face of climate uncertainties. Goals of the legislation are to be achieved without compromising water availability for environmental purposes, and through safeguarding safe drinking water and maintaining high water quality standards.
“This law puts a spotlight on groundwater as a climate change hero by providing the impetus for California to optimize state infrastructure, operational protocols and regulatory mechanisms to harness and store excess water in the groundwater aquifer when it’s available,” said RWA Executive Director Jim Peifer. “This legislation not only paves the way for a sustainable water future in California by enhancing the management of our natural infrastructure—the reservoirs under our feet—it is also vital to the Sacramento region.”
Brian German
Ag News Director / AgNet West