Implementation of California’s New Groundwater Law Continues as DWR Releases Draft Emergency Regulations for Groundwater Sustainability Plans
In 2014, the California Legislature adopted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which for the first time comprehensively regulates the extraction and use of the state’s groundwater. A significant milestone in SGMA’s implementation is the adoption of emergency regulations by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) that specify key requirements for the content and evaluation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (Plans) that will be prepared by Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) for medium and high priority groundwater basins. This milestone was advanced on February 18, 2016 when DWR issued draft regulations for public comment.
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