Ten years after the law known as SGMA changed California’s water world, what’s next?
Monday marked the 10-year anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, (SGMA) which aims to bring severely over pumped aquifers back into balance by 2040. Even with more than $1 billion already spent, two groundwater subbasins on probation and enforcement actions being challenged in court, some state officials say the hard part is just beginning. And the San Joaquin Valley is ground zero for what’s coming. … While the challenge was understanding the law in the early days, 10 years in, the new challenge is full implementation … Trying to get projects started, securing funding, transitioning land out of agriculture and the impacts that could have on the industry, will be difficult … … Another always present concern moving forward, is the unpredictability of climate.