California Water Views

California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is entering a critical phase as the focus shifts from planning to implementation and measurable outcomes. State agencies are taking a more assertive role, with the Department of Water Resources continuing to evaluate the adequacy of Groundwater Sustainability Plans and the State Water Resources Control Board increasingly exercising its enforcement authority—particularly in critically overdrafted basins. As a result, Groundwater Sustainability Agencies are facing heightened scrutiny, new reporting requirements, potential fees and the possibility of state-led interim plans where local efforts fall short.

At the same time, SGMA implementation is intensifying policy and political tensions across the state. Competing priorities among agricultural users, disadvantaged communities and urban water suppliers are becoming more pronounced as sustainability measures translate into real-world impacts such as pumping limits and land fallowing. Ongoing legislative interest in issues like funding, equity and long-term water reliability further underscores the complexity of SGMA’s next phase. As deadlines approach, the balance between state oversight and local control will remain a central challenge for agencies working to achieve groundwater sustainability.

Read the full article in Nossaman’s California Water Views – Outlook 2026 for a deeper look at how SGMA implementation is evolving and what it means for groundwater management across California.