WATER MANAGEMENT


California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act works to achieve a sustainable solution.


By Sargeant J. Green 20 Irrigation TODAY | Winter 2021


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alifornia adopted a “new” ground- water law in 2014. It’s called the Sustainable Groundwater Manage- ment Act, also known as SGMA. It has been around long enough


that we have a pretty good idea of how it works. Let me explain.


First, some history is in order. It is often presumed that California has had no groundwater laws. Actually, California has had numerous groundwater policy and


law changes over time. The result is that groundwater management in California has been a journey, not an event. Previous activities laid important foundations now ingrained in SGMA. The big difference is the new law has enforceable goals. How- ever, SGMA will still be a journey.


California groundwater “rights” were sub- stantially settled in the early 20th century. The right is a “proportionate share” for property of overlying landowners but also


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