California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

The California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), enacted in 2014, aims to ensure long-term groundwater health by preventing over-pumping. It requires local agencies to develop and implement plans to sustainably manage groundwater basins—making sure water use does not exceed recharge over decades. This includes monitoring groundwater levels, managing stress on aquifers, and balancing water needs for agriculture, cities, and ecosystems. The law seeks to safeguard groundwater resources, support resilient water supplies, and reduce the risk of land subsidence and other issues caused by over-extraction, fostering a sustainable water future for California.