Assessment released today describes substantial progress made in sustainability plans.
From the State Water Resources Control Board:
State Water Resources Control Board staff released today a Staff Assessment of the Kaweah Subbasin recommending that the State Water Board return the subbasin to the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) jurisdiction under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
The staff assessment analyzes the subbasin’s latest groundwater sustainability plans and finds that local agencies made significant progress in adequately addressing deficiencies in their groundwater sustainability plans.
The release of the assessment starts a 30-day public comment period that ends Nov. 12, 2025. At its meeting on Dec. 2, 2025, the five-member board will consider acting on the recommendation.
SGMA, enacted in 2014, established a new framework for local groundwater management to achieve long-term sustainability. Under SGMA, groundwater agencies in subbasins are required to achieve long-term sustainable management of their groundwater within 20 years of implementing their sustainability plans. Initially, under SGMA, when DWR finds management in a subbasin to be inadequate for reaching groundwater sustainability, the board’s intervention process is initiated.
More information on the board’s implementation of SGMA can be found on the website.
