Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

SGMA refers to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which is a California state law enacted in 2014. It aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources in California, particularly in the Central Valley. The Central Valley of California is heavily dependent on groundwater as a source of water for agricultural irrigation and urban use, and SGMA is aimed at addressing the over-extraction of groundwater that has been taking place in the region for decades. The law requires the creation of local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) to manage groundwater use and ensure that it is sustainable in the long term.