Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Documents
- Proposed OVGA & GSP Schedule
- Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Administrative Draft (Draft – Sept 2021)
- Communications and Engagement Plan (Draft- Sept 2020)
- Mission Statement (January 2020)
- Press Release (Jan 7, 2019)
- Interested Parties Form
- Associate Parties Form
- Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement
- Notice of Intent to Adopt Conflict of Interest Code
- Inyo-Mono Assessment
- Technical Justification of Proposed Boundary Modifications to Owens Valley Groundwater Basin
- Formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Owens Valley – Staff Report (10-4-16)
- Formation of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency in the Owens Valley Groundwater Basin (10-4-16)
- Hydrogeologic Conceptual Model for the Owens Valley Groundwater Basin
- Proposal to modify Owens Valley Groundwater Basin Boundaries (4-4-16 )
- Guidance Document for Public Input on modifications to the Owens Valley Groundwater Basin Boundaries
What is S.G.M.A.?
The California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was enacted by the California legislature in late 2014 and it went into effect on January 1, 2015. It provides for a legal framework to reasonably regulate production of groundwater in California for the first time in State history (surface water has been regulated since 1914). SGMA generally gives local agencies the authority necessary to physically manage groundwater in designated basins or subbasins throughout the State in a sustainable manner over a defined period of time (a 20-40 year horizon). It specifically provides for creation of governing Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to write and implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) to accomplish measurable goals and prevent unreasonable physical harm to the basin or the water resource. Owens Valley Groundwater Authority has taken the steps necessary to serve as a GSA for several of those basins.
SGMA PURPOSE
- Establish a definition of sustainable groundwater management
- Establish a framework for local agencies to develop plans and implement strategies to sustainably manage groundwater resources
- Prioritize basins with the greatest problems (ranked as high- and medium-priority)
- Set a 20-year timeline for implementation
What are your rights?
Landowners in California are entitled to pump and use a reasonable amount of groundwater from a basin underlying their land to put it to a beneficial, non-wasteful use. When there is insufficient water to meet the demands of landowners, they are expected to reduce their use to bring extractions into the “safe yield” of the basin to prevent overdraft. Safe yield is the rate at which groundwater can be withdrawn without causing long-term decline of water levels or other undesirable effects such as subsidence.
The SGMA is designed to address issues related to both overdraft and safe yield, but does not change existing groundwater rights. Specifically, Water Code section 10720.5(b) says that nothing in the legislation “determines or alters surface water rights or groundwater rights under common law or any provisions of law that determines or grants surface water rights.”
SGMA and GSP Information
The following links provide additional information about SGMA, Sustainable Groundwater Plans, Groundwater, and Stakeholder Engagement
- California Department of Water Resources — SGMA Groundwater Management
- University of California, Davis
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- SGMA Best Management Practices
- Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Portal
- Association of California Water Agencies
- Water Education Foundation SGMA Handbook
- Groundwater Resources Association of California
- Union of Concerned Scientists: Guide to California’s Groundwater Sustainability Plans, in English and Spanish
Water and Groundwater
Stakeholder Engagement
- Presentations will be posted.
Common Acronyms
- DMS – Data Management System
- DWR – California Department of Water Resources
- ET – Evapotranspiration
- FY – Fiscal Year
- GSA – Groundwater Sustainability Agency
- GSP – Groundwater Sustainability Plan
- IWFM – Integrated Water Flow Model
- OVGA – Owens Valley Groundwater Authority
- OVGB – Owens Valley Groundwater Basin
- SAC – Standing Advisory Committee
- SAP – Sampling and Analysis Plan
- SGMA – Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
- SWRCB – State Water Resources Control Board
- USGS – U.S. Geological Survey
