Understanding the Role of Decision Support Tools for Assisting Managed Aquifer Recharge in California’s Central Valley

In 2014, California passed historic legislation requiring all high- and medium-priority groundwater basins in the State to be managed sustainably by 2042. Many consultants, nongovernmental organizations, and other entities are developing tools to support groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) -- the local agencies tasked with managing these basins -- in achieving their management goals. However, the efficacy of such tools and their role in changing long-term management decisions is rarely assessed. Using meeting observation, semi-structured interviews, and quantitative metrics, this research traces the development of a Groundwater Recharge Assessment Tool (GRAT) and its adoption by two major irrigation districts in the California Central Valley. In addition to assessing its effectiveness in meeting short- and long-term management goals, this study seeks to answer more fundamental questions about the tool’s functionality, including: Did the tool change management decisions and how? Who uses the tool and how do uses vary between users? What components of the tool were most effective and helpful for management decisions? What constrained the tool’s functionality? We conclude with thoughts on the broader applicability of such a tool for assisting managed aquifer recharge efforts elsewhere in the Southwest and welcome input from conference attendees to that end.