California's Statewide Comprehensive Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program - Carrot Vs. Stick Approach

California passed landmark legislation in 2009, for the first time in the state, which mandates a comprehensive groundwater elevation monitoring and reporting program. The legislative intent is for every basin in the state to have adequate groundwater elevation monitoring to assess groundwater level trends over time. The legislation does not specifically require any local agency, voluntary monitoring agency or county to conduct the monitoring, but indicates that all local agencies in a basin that do not comply with the legislation and conduct comprehensive monitoring and reporting of groundwater level data will be ineligible for state funds for water projects. The presentation will provide background and specifics on the legislation, overview of the monitoring guidelines, and progress to date on implementing the legislation.