The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the final 2016 modifications to California’s groundwater basin boundaries, preparing the way for local agencies to bring their groundwater basins into balanced levels under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
The new basin boundaries will be included in the interim update of Bulletin 118, due out by January 1, 2017. Another basin boundary modification request period may be held in 2018 based on demand from local agencies and/or GSAs.
Other important near-term dates on the SGMA timeline include:
- December 31, 2016: DWR will post a report on Water Available for Replenishment on its website;
- November 14-17, 2016: DWR will conduct public meetings for input on its draft topic of Best Management Practices (BMPs);
- January 1, 2017: DWR will post BMPs on its website; and,
- June 30, 2017: Date by which local agencies in high and medium priority basins must form GSAs that cover the entire basin in order to avoid potential intervention by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Additional information on the groundwater basin boundaries can be accessed here.