Restored

Authority commented, “DWR called this
their ‘Summer of Outreach’ on SGMA, but
it sort of turned into their ‘Summer of
Love,’ I say, because there’s been nothing
but positive comments on the process, the
interactiveness, the collaboration between
the state and locals…”
By unanimous vote, the CWC adopted the
new basin boundary regulations and DWR
marked its first major SGMA milestone.
There was positive practical outcome
for agencies, as well. By hitting SGMA’s
January 1, 2016 deadline for adoption of
DWR’s basin boundary regulations six
weeks early, DWR and the CWC effectively
gave local agencies an additional six
weeks to prepare their requests for changes
to the boundaries of their basin or subbasin.
DWR began accepting those requests
on January 1, 2016 and will continue to do
so until March 31, 2016.
Groundwater
Sustainability Plans
Work on the next set of SGMA-mandated
regulations began long before the ink was
dry on the basin boundary regulations. By
June 1, 2016, DWR is required to adopt
emergency regulations for evaluating and
implementing Groundwater Sustainability
Plans (GSPs) to achieve the legislative intent
of the SGMA. The Sustainable Groundwater
Management (SGM) Program, led by
DIRWM’s Trevor Joseph, established a
Senior Engineer Glenn Moeller of DWR’s Division of
Engineering visits the site of a new water well being
installed in East Porterville on October 13, 2015.
SGMA’S 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
Basins that were either fully or
partially claimed by a local agency(s)
when deciding to become or form a
Groundwater Sustainability Agency
(GSA).
Individual GSA formation notices
filed with DWR.
Basins that have complete, significant
or incidental GSA formation overlap
that must be addressed by the local
agencies involved.
GSAs that were formed using a joint
powers agreement.
California Department of Water Resources DWR Magazine j Winter 2015 | 2016 11