DWR Approves Groundwater Plans for 10 Basins by Department of Water Resources Jul 27, 2023 Water News SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced today the approval of groundwater sustainability plans for 10 non-critically overdrafted groundwater basins located across California. The approved basins are East Bay Plain, East Contra Costa, Ukiah Valley, Sierra Valley, North San Benito, North American, South American, Butte, Vina, and Wyandotte Creek. These basins provide a significant portion of water supply for nearly three million Californians. Groundwater agencies have been implementing their plans since they were adopted locally in mid- to late-2021. DWR expects all plans to be updated over time as basin conditions change and new data and information becomes available. Progress toward a sustainable groundwater future is helping communities become resilient against long-term climate-driven extremes like extended periods of drought and this year’s intense storms. Sustainable groundwater conditions and targeted recharge help protect communities that are vulnerable to wells going dry, and these groundwater plans are addressing current issues and long-term solutions toward resiliency for communities, households, industries and the environment that are all dependent on groundwater. The cornerstone of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is local management with state regulatory oversight. The release of these approved assessments provides direction to the local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), including recommended actions, to ensure the basins remain on a path to long-term sustainability. DWR will also review annual reports from the GSAs and assess progress towards the basin sustainability goals every five years. DWR has now made determinations for 46 groundwater basins. Of the 46, a total of 40 basins are approved, including the 10 basins released today. Six basins are deemed inadequate and have transitioned to the State Water Resources Control Board intervention process. Additionally, DWR approved nine basins with alternatives to groundwater sustainability plans in July 2017. The 10 basins approved today are among the non-critically overdrafted basins that submitted their plans to DWR in January 2022. The GSAs in 37 basins that were required to submit plans in 2022 and currently have plans under review by DWR should anticipate additional determination releases throughout 2023. Through state and local actions this year, DWR has been able to track an estimated 3.8 million acre-feet of recharge potential from recharge projects. This includes actions resulting from the Governor’s Executive Orders related to floodwater recharge, the State Water Board’s expedited streamlined temporary recharge permits, known active projects and planned recharge projects funded through DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management grant program.
