In September 2014, Governor Brown signed historic legislation requiring that California’s critical groundwater resources be sustainably managed by local agencies. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) gives local agencies (cities, counties and water districts) powers to sustainably manage groundwater over the long-term, and requires Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) be developed for medium- and high-priority groundwater basins.

The first step implementing the new law is the creation of local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs).

Groundwater Sustainability Agency

The Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) is a newly formed public agency and its purpose is to secure groundwater sustainability for the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Basin. To learn more about the GSA visit www.santarosaplaingroundwater.org.

The Agency has a GSA Board and an Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to provide input and recommendations to the GSA Board on groundwater sustainability plan development, implementation, and policies. The intent of the committee is to provide community perspective and participation in the Agency. The composition of the Advisory Committee is intended to represent the beneficial uses and users of groundwater identified in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

Groundwater Sustainability Plan

The second step required under SGMA will be to develop a new Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) by 2022. The goal of the GSP is to establish a standard for "sustainability" of groundwater management and use, and to determine how the basin will achieve this standard. For more information about the GSP click here.

For further information on the new groundwater law and SGMA activities in Sonoma County, visit SonomaCountyGroundwater.org.