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SGMA

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)

 

Acronyms

DWR - Department of Water Resource

GSA - Groundwater Sustainability Agency

GWA - Groundwater Authority

GSP - Groundwater Sustainability Plan

ESJGWA - Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority

Subbasin - Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin

AFY - Acre Feet per Year

GPM - Gallons Per Minute

Quick Facts

  • SGMA was implemented in 2014 by the Department of Water Resources (DWR).  
  • DWR identified the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin as a critically over drafted basin.  
  • Stockton East Water District is located within the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin and is a leading GSA under the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority (ESJGWA). 
  • The ESJGWA consists of 16 different GSAs. This can be seen on the map below.  
  • The Eastern San Joaquin GSP, developed by the ESJGWA, meets SGMA requirements.  
  • The Eastern San Joaquin GSP provides a path to achieve and document sustainable groundwater management within 20 years following the Plan adoption. 
  • The Subbasin operates at an estimated deficit of 90,000 AFY.  
  • Stockton East Water District operates at an estimated deficit is between 11,000 AFY - 32,000 AFY.  
May contain: chart, plot, map, atlas, and diagram
 Map Showing the Subbasin Boundaries and GSA Boundaries  

Where do we stand as a Subbasin?  

Each GSA has been working on implementing the GSP since January 2020, when the GSP was originally submitted to DWR for approval. The GSP was approved by DWR in July 2022. The District works with the ESJGWA to submit the required annual reports every April to provide the previous year’s data.  The ESJGWA is currently working on finalizing the first GSP 5-year update. The 5-year update must include and assess the following:   

  • Must demonstrate progress towards sustainability AND implementation of GSP projects.  
  • Must provide detailed demand reduction (curtailment) framework. 
  • Identify how as the Subbasin we will reduce groundwater pumping by 90,000 AFY, exact numbers depend on updated modelling.  
  • SEWD’s portion of the required reduction in groundwater pumping is 11,000 AFY - 32,000 AFY. 

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