What is SGMA?

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.

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