Capitalizing on Crisis to Change to Sustainable Groundwater Management in California
Capitalizing on Crisis to Change to Sustainable Groundwater Management in California
Presented on Tuesday, March 17, 2015
California has over 50 groundwater basins and subbasins that have been in a state of depletion for some 40 years. In many basins in the state, seven of the last ten years have been dry, and last year was the driest year on record, resulting in wells going dry, increased land subsidence and infrastructure damage, bringing a new level of visibility to groundwater depletion. The Governor developed an initiative for sustainable groundwater management, held public workshops, and developed legislative and administrative proposals to address widespread groundwater depletion. The state Legislature has held hearings and developed comprehensive legislation to address groundwater depletion and improving groundwater management.
Key elements of the proposed sustainable groundwater management legislation includes:
- Definition of sustainable groundwater management
- Provisions for new sustainable groundwater management entities to charge fees, collect and evaluate data including pumpage, and manage groundwater demand
- Prioritization of groundwater basins by the State and requirement that high and medium priority basins be sustainably managed within twenty years
- Requirement that sustainable groundwater management entities be established by local agencies in high and medium priority basins within two years
- Requirement for sustainable groundwater management plans in high and medium priority basins within five years
- State Enforcement Backstop – if above conditions are not met, the State can step in and develop and implement plans and programs until local agencies take responsibility
Legislation will go to Floor Vote in August and is due on the Governor’s desk by August 31. Since the legislation involves fees, it needs a two-thirds majority vote to pass. However, the Governor can also introduce this as a trailing trailer to the state budget passed in mid-June that requires only a simple majority vote. There is strong optimism that comprehensive sustainable groundwater management legislation will pass this year – let no crisis go to waste.