Chowchilla Subbasin Avoids Probation Under SGMA by State Water Resources Control Board Jun 4, 2025 Water News SACRAMENTO — At its June 3 meeting, the State Water Resources Control Board approved a resolution to return the Chowchilla Groundwater Subbasin to the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) jurisdiction under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). In March 2023, DWR determined that the local plan to achieve groundwater sustainability in the Chowchilla Groundwater Subbasin was inadequate and referred the subbasin to the State Water Board for potential state intervention. The local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) for the subbasin revised their plan and the State Water Board determined that the new plan addresses the problems that DWR identified as well as Board staff concerns and, by implementing the revised plan, the GSAs are on track to achieve sustainable groundwater management. Local groundwater sustainability agencies will continue managing groundwater in the subbasin under DWR’s jurisdiction.
