The California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

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The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is considered landmark legislation in California, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in September 2014, and consists of a comprehensive three-bill package aimed to sustainably manage California's groundwater basins, which are crucial to the state's water supply.

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The primary objective of SGMA is to achieve groundwater sustainability within a 20-year timeframe, addressing the long-standing issue of unregulated groundwater use with an emphasis on local control and management. The Act mandates the formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) for all medium- and high-priority groundwater basins, as designated by the Department of Water Resources.  These GSAs are responsible for developing and implementing Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) tailored to their specific basin conditions.

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The SGMA legislation grants GSAs new authorities to manage groundwater effectively, including the power to conduct investigations, determine sustainable yield, measure and limit extraction, impose fees, and enforce the terms of their GSPs.  SGMA defines sustainable groundwater management as the use of groundwater that can be maintained without causing "undesirable results".  These undesirable results include chronic lowering of groundwater levels, significant reduction of groundwater storage, seawater intrusion, degradation of water quality, land subsidence, and surface water depletions that adversely impact beneficial uses. 

 

Additionally, SGMA promotes increased coordination between land use planning agencies and GSAs to ensure alignment between groundwater management and broader regional planning efforts. While SGMA grants significant authority to local agencies, it also provides for state intervention through the State Water Resources Control Board if local efforts fail to meet the Act's requirements, ensuring a backstop for achieving statewide groundwater sustainability.

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The Yucaipa Sustainable Groundwater Management Agency (Yucaipa SGMA)

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The Yucaipa Sustainable Groundwater Management Agency (Yucaipa SGMA) was established in 2017 in response to California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.  The Yucaipa SGMA is directly responsible for managing groundwater resources in the Yucaipa Subbasin, an area of approximately 25,300 acres that includes portions of Calimesa, Redlands, and Yucaipa, as well as unincorporated areas of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.  

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The Yucaipa Subbasin is classified as a high-priority basin by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), primarily due to its heavy reliance on groundwater for water supply, although it is not considered to be in a state of critical overdraft.

 

The Yucaipa SGMA is governed by a Board of Directors comprising eight partners, including retail water agencies, cities, and state water contractors.  The Board of Directors consist of the following individuals:

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Water Purveyors:

South Mesa Water Company - David Armstrong and Brittany Lim

South Mountain Water Company - Allison Edmisten and Brett Granlund

Western Heights Water Company - Mark Iverson and Brooke Shorey

Yucaipa Valley Water District - Joseph Zoba and Jennifer Ares

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Municipal Partners:

City of Redlands - John Harris and Paul Mariscal

City of Yucaipa - Chris Mann and Fermin Preciado

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Regional Water Agencies:

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District - Michael Plinski and Adekunle Ojo

San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency - Lance Eckhart and Emmett Campbell

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The primary objective of the Yucaipa Sustainable Groundwater Management Agency is to ensure the long-term sustainable use of groundwater resources in the Yucaipa Subbasin, benefiting stakeholders such as retail water agencies, private well owners, and environmental areas like the riparian habitat in San Timoteo Creek.  To achieve this goal, the Yucaipa SGMA developed a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) in compliance with SGMA and DWR regulations.  This comprehensive plan, which was approved by the California Department of Water Resources on January 18, 2024, outlines the basin setting and establishes criteria for maintaining or achieving sustainable groundwater management.  The Plan serves as a framework for active management of local groundwater resources, with the ultimate aim of achieving sustainable groundwater management in the Yucaipa Subbasin by 2042.​