California Department of Water Resources Approves 12 Groundwater Sustainability Plans for Non-Critically Overdrafted Basins

June 2023

Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 3, Number 9

On April 27, 2023, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its approval of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSPs) for 12 non-critically overdrafted groundwater basins under the Sustainable Groundwater Management ACT (SGMA). With the announcement, DWR has now issued GSP determinations for 36 out of the 94 medium- or high-priority groundwater basins in the state. Of that total, the GSPs for six basins have been deemed “inadequate” and are now subject to pending intervention by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), while the plans for eight more basins are presently considered “incomplete.” As with the previously approved GSPs, DWR’s latest approvals include recommended corrective actions for the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to consider implementing before the first give-year review.

Subscribers to the Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter and the California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter can read the full article here.