Category: Reference

Groundwater Exchange website

February 6, 2023 No Comments

The Groundwater Exchange is a central, collaborative, and publicly accessible online resource center connecting water managers, water users, and community members with tools and resources to support the design and implementation of effective Groundwater Sustainability Plans under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. ​The Groundwater Exchange is a program of the California Water Library and is a project of the Multiplier, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps us protect and foster a healthy, sustainable, resilient, and equitable world.

Check out the “groundwater recharge” page (https://groundwaterexchange.org/groundwater-recharge/) for resources specific to Flood-MAR.

Groundwater Resource Hub

February 2, 2023 No Comments

The purpose of the Groundwater Resource Hub is to help local agencies achieve sustainable groundwater management by providing the science and tools needed to help address nature’s water needs. Over time, the goal is to improve statewide and local understanding of nature’s groundwater needs to reduce uncertainties and therefore enhance sustainable groundwater management.

Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are plant and animal communities that require groundwater to meet some or all of their water needs. California is home to a diverse range of GDEs including palm oases in the Sonoran Desert, hot springs in the Mojave Desert, seasonal wetlands in the Central Valley, perennial riparian forests along the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, and estuaries along the coast and in the Delta. These ecosystems rely on groundwater in California’s semi-arid climate, especially during dry summers and periods of drought. GDEs provide important benefits to California including habitat for animals, water supply, water purification, flood mitigation, erosion control, recreational opportunities and general enjoyment of California’s natural landscape.

California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

January 20, 2023 No Comments

The historic passage of SGMA in 2014 set forth a statewide framework to help protect groundwater resources over the long-term. SGMA is comprised from a three-bill legislative package, including AB 1739 (Dickinson), SB 1168 (Pavley), and SB 1319 (Pavley), and subsequent statewide Regulations. In signing SGMA, then-Governor Jerry Brown emphasized that “groundwater management in California is best accomplished locally.”

SGMA requires local agencies to form groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) for the high and medium priority basins. GSAs develop and implement groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) to avoid undesirable results and mitigate overdraft within 20 years.

DWR serves two roles to support local SGMA implementation:

1) Regulatory oversight through the evaluation and assessment of GSPs

2) Providing ongoing assistance to locals through the development of:

Best management practices and guidance
Planning assistance
Technical assistance
Financial assistance