What is the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)?

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is indeed a law aimed at ensuring the sustainable management of groundwater resources in California. Enacted in 2014, the SGMA establishes a framework for local agencies to manage groundwater basins more effectively, ensuring that groundwater is utilized in a way that does not exceed its natural recharge rate. This is critical in a state like California, where groundwater is a significant source of water, especially during periods of drought.

The act requires the formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) that are tasked with developing and implementing Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for high-priority basins. These plans must address issues such as over-extraction of groundwater, depletion of groundwater resources, and impacts on interconnected surface water bodies. This comprehensive approach seeks to protect both current and future water supplies.

By focusing on sustainable management, SGMA promotes long-term resilience of the state's groundwater resources, combating issues such as subsidence, reduced water quality, and ecological impacts on dependent waterways. This proactive management aligns with broader environmental and economic goals in California. Other options, while related to water management, address different aspects that do not specifically encompass the comprehensive framework that SGMA provides for groundwater sustainability.