Although the Department of Water Resources (DWR) was expected to begin implementing basin boundary regulations in January 2016, the agency decided to begin the implementations on Monday.
Because DWR began the implementation earlier than anticipated, water agencies have an additional six weeks to file basin boundary changes under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
“This is a noteworthy accomplishment for DWR and for the future of groundwater management in California,” said DWR Director, Mark Cowin. “SGMA established a roadmap of goals and milestones for the next several years that will eventually lead to sustainable management of groundwater. Today DWR successfully reached the first milestone, and local agencies have the benefit of more time.”
Currently, $10 million in Proposition 1 funding is available to update or develop local ordinances and groundwater plans as a means of sustainable groundwater management for basins.