Utility Frequently Asked Questions

Information is available from the following resources:

• California Department of Water Resources Groundwater Information Center
• ACWA's Recommendations for Achieving Groundwater Sustainability
• California Water Foundation Information / Recommendations on Groundwater Sustainability

This Act sets the framework for local authorities to manage sustainable groundwater. The comprehensive three-bill package requires groundwater sustainability agencies to assess local basin conditions and adopt sustainable management plans. The Modesto Subbasin’s sustainability plan will be implemented in 2022.

State intervention is limited to allow for maximum local control over our groundwater resources. Only when a groundwater sustainability agency is not formed and/or fails to create and implement a 20-year sustainability plan will the State take

Groundwater sustainability agencies are empowered to use a number of new management tools to achieve sustainability. This may include:

• Registering groundwater wells,
• Mandating annual extraction reports from individual wells,
• Imposing limits on extractions,
• Requesting a revision of the groundwater basin boundary, including establishing new subbasins, and
• Assessing fees to support the creation and adoption of a sustainability plan.
  
  

Proposition 1, the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, provided $820 million in funding to help create and implement groundwater sustainability plans across the state.

The Modesto Subbasin is a high-priority subbasin but is not in overdraft. The Groundwater Sustainability Plan is on track to being submitted by the deadline of January 31, 2022.

Groundwater sustainability plans for critically over-drafted basins must be completed and adopted by the groundwater sustainability agencies by Jan. 31, 2020. Groundwater sustainability plans for high- and medium-priority basins not in overdraft must be completed and adopted by Jan. 31, 2022. All high- and medium-priority groundwater basins must achieve sustainability within 20 years of the adoption of the groundwater sustainability plan.