What is SGMA?
Understanding California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
On September 16, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation creating the first comprehensive framework for California's groundwater management. This three-bill package included AB 1739, SB 1168, and SB 1319, collectively known as the "Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)."
SGMA defines sustainable groundwater management as "management and use of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained during the planning and implementation horizon without causing undesirable results."
Key Requirements
- Halt overdraft conditions
- Restore groundwater basins to balanced pumping and recharge levels
- Reach sustainability within 20 years of plan implementation
- Meet 2040 deadline for critically over-drafted basins
- Meet 2042 deadline for remaining high and medium priority basins
SGMA empowers local agencies to establish Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) that must adopt Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for critical California groundwater basins. Governor Brown emphasized that "groundwater management in California is best accomplished locally."
Chowchilla Subbasin
County serves as exclusive GSA for unincorporated areas.
| Agency | Phone | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Chowchilla Water District | (559) 665-3747 | 2nd Wednesday monthly, 1:30 p.m. |
| Triangle T | (559) 665-1788 | 2nd Thursday monthly, 1:00 p.m. |
| Merced County | (209) 385-7686 | Stakeholder: 4th Monday 9:30 a.m.; Coordinating: 4th Monday 1:30 p.m. |
Delta-Mendota Subbasin
County manages unincorporated portions.
| Agency | Phone | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Aliso Water District | (559) 659-1483 | 4th Tuesday quarterly, 2:00 p.m. |
| Exchange Contractors Water Authority | (209) 827-8616 | 1st Friday, 8:00 a.m. |
Madera Subbasin
Multiple GSAs operate within this subbasin.
| Agency | Phone | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| City of Madera GSA | (559) 661-5430 | 1st Wednesday monthly, 6:00 p.m. |
| Gravelly Ford Water District | — | 3rd Monday monthly |
| Madera County | (559) 675-7703 ext. 2265 | — |
| Madera Irrigation District | (559) 673-3514 | 3rd Tuesday monthly |
| Madera Water District | (559) 674-4944 | 2nd Wednesday monthly, 9:00 a.m. |
| Root Creek Water District | (559) 326-2222 | 2nd Monday monthly, 11:00 a.m. |
| New Stone Water District | — | Quarterly meetings |
Source: California Department of Water Resources
