GSA Information
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on September 16, 2014, created a new framework for groundwater management in California. The framework includes a structure and schedule to achieve sustainable groundwater management within 20 years.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has historically managed the state’s central repository for groundwater data. Under SGMA, DWR provides guidance, financial assistance, and technical support for compliance with state requirements.
SGMA established a new structure for local groundwater management by local agencies through groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs). The formation of GSAs for all basins that DWR designated as high- and medium-priority groundwater basins was required by July 1, 2017. Each GSA for these high- and medium-priority basins must then develop a groundwater sustainability plan (GSP) that details how sustainable groundwater management will be achieved within 20 years of implementing the GSP.
The GSP is a tool used to help the GSA sustainably manage the basin. As part of GSP development, SGMA requires GSAs to understand the basin context, basin conditions, hydrogeological conceptual model, and the basin water budget, as well as provide a description of the sustainable management criteria for the basin, stakeholder engagement, monitoring network planning, and identification of project and management plans. The deadline for submittal of GSPs to DWR is January 2022.
The Department of Regional Planning represents the County of Los Angeles on two GSAs: Santa Clarita Valley GSA and Santa Monica Basin GSA. For more information on these GSAs, please visit the GSA websites:
- Santa Clarita Valley GSA: www.scvgsa.org
- Santa Monica Basin GSA: www.santamonica.gov/gsp
For background information on SGMA and groundwater issues, please visit these websites:
- CA Department of Water Resources | SGMA Groundwater Management
- CA Department of Water Resources | Groundwater Sustainability Plans
- Association of California Water Agencies | Sustaining Groundwater Resources
- State Water Resources Control Board | Groundwater Workplan
- Public Policy Institute of California | Groundwater in California
- Water Education Foundation | Groundwater Law
