Groundwater Management Program
Resources for GSAs
SGMA is a landmark law that empowers local agencies to sustainably manage groundwater resources. In areas where groundwater users and local agencies are unable or unwilling to sustainably manage their groundwater, the State Water Board can intervene. SGMA is based on the premise that groundwater is best managed locally and the State Water Board has developed resources to help local agencies implement SGMA and avoid State Intervention. Other programs at the State Water Board can also assist GSAs with questions or data related to water quality, drinking water, and surface water rights for direct use or groundwater recharge.
Tools
SGMA’s Groundwater Quality Visualization Tool
Developed in collaboration with the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) program), the SGMA Groundwater Quality Visualization tool was developed to review water quality constituents specific to all medium and high priority groundwater basins. The constituents listed in this tool are known to be influenced by basin-wide groundwater management and exceed regulatory thresholds within the selected medium or high priority groundwater basins.
State and Regional Water Board Programs
- Surface Water Rights: Capturing and storing surface water generally requires an appropriative water right. Parties can obtain new water rights or change existing water rights to authorize groundwater recharge projects.
- Water Quality: The Groundwater Management Program (GMP) hosts a water quality visualization tool specific to selected basins and constituents known to be influences by groundwater management processes. The Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program hosts on-line maps and databases that show the concentration of many groundwater constituents over time. The State Water Board also maintains a searchable Water Quality Goals database, containing a compilation of numeric water quality thresholds from state and federal regulations, and from literature for hundreds of chemical constituents and water quality parameters.
- Drinking Water: The Division of Drinking Water (DDW) regulates public drinking water systems.
- Regional Water Quality Control Boards: There are nine regional water quality control boards state-wide. Each Regional Board makes critical water quality decisions for its region, including setting standards, issuing waste discharge requirements, determining compliance with those requirements, and taking appropriate enforcement actions.
Fact Sheets
- Overview of Submittal and Evaluation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (1/23/2020)
Descripción General de la Presentación y Evaluación de los Planes de Sostenibilidad del Agua Subterránea en las Cuencas Sobresaturadas - Water Quality Frequently Asked Questions (11/29/2022)
Preguntas Frecuentes de la Calidad del Agua - Resources for GSAs to Consider when Complying with SGMA (4/11/2019)
Recursos para las Agencias de Sustentabilidad del Agua Subterránea para Tomaren Cuenta al Cumplir con la Ley de Gestión Sustentable del Agua Subterránea - Probationary Designation and Groundwater Regulation by the State Water Board (11/22/2022)
Designación de Probatoria y Regulación del Agua Subterránea por parte de la Junta Estatal del Agua - Stakeholder Inclusion (11/29/2022)
Integración de los Interesados - State and Regional Water Boards Basics (4/11/2019)
Fundamentos de las Juntas Estatal y Regionales del Agua - Funding Opportunities for Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (4/11/2019)
Oportunidades de Financiamiento - Purposes of Use for Underground Storage Projects (4/2019)
Finalidad de Uso para los Programas de Almacenamiento Subterráneo - Domestic Well Users and SGMA
GSA Eligibility
- Frequently Asked Questions on Groundwater Sustainability Agencies
- For other questions about GSA eligibility, please email SGMA@waterboards.ca.gov
Past Events
- View the Groundwater Management Program informational item 9 presented to the State Water Board, on September 7, 2022.
- View the Groundwater Management Program informational item 9 presented to the State Water Board, on June 2, 2020.
- View the Groundwater Management Program informational item 6 presented to the State Water Board, on May 10, 2022.
- DWR and SWRCB hosted SGMA Workshops in January in Clovis and Paso Robles. These regional workshops focused on evaluation of sustainability plans, the state's role, annual reporting requirements and available resources. The following resources are available if you were not able to attend:
- State Water Board Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions Workshop, December 3, 2018
